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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

department also issues landslip warnings and provides information, education and community advisory services on slope safety.

Under the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme, the department spent $1.14 billion in 2019 to upgrade 165 substandard government man-made slopes and to mitigate the landslide risk of 33 natural hillside catchments. It also conducted safety screening studies for 100 private man-made slopes.

Drinking Water Safety

The Water Supplies Department collects and tests water samples from the taps of randomly selected premises to monitor the quality of drinking water. In 2019, the test results indicated the drinking water quality of the selected premises complied with Hong Kong Drinking Water Standards.

The department's performance in respect of drinking water quality is monitored by a Drinking Water Safety Unit set up under the bureau. The unit examines the results of the department's water quality monitoring and engages external auditors to audit the department's Drinking Water Quality Management System.

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

Since 1965, Hong Kong has been receiving raw water from the Dongjiang, now the city's major source of raw water. The Dongjiang water supply agreement maintains flexibility in the daily supply rate, ensuring a reliable source of supply and avoiding wastage of precious water resources. In 2019, the city imported 718 million cubic metres of Dongjiang water.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year, during which 2,369mm of rainfall was recorded. Storage reservoirs held some 403 million cubic metres of water at the end of 2019.

There were about three million water customer accounts as at the year end. Some 996 million cubic metres of fresh water was consumed in 2019, with an average daily supply of about 2.73 million cubic metres. Another 307 million cubic metres of sea water was supplied for toilet flushing.

Total Water Management

In August, the government launched an updated Total Water Management Strategy, which emphasises containing the growth of fresh water demand and building resilience in fresh water supply to cater for extreme effects of climate change with diversified water resources. The key initiatives of containing fresh water demand growth include further promoting water conservation, managing water loss and expanding the use of lower-grade water for non- potable purposes.

Constructing the first stage of Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant is one of the measures to build resilience in fresh water supply. In December, a 'design, build and operate' contract was

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