Water from Guangdong

To solve the water shortage problem and to meet the increasing demand, Hong Kong began to receive raw water from the Shenzhen Reservoir in Guangdong in 1960 when a scheme was completed for receiving a supply of 22.7 million cubic metres a year. The scheme was expanded in 1965 by constructing an 80-kilometre transfer system (the Dongshen Water Supply System) to deliver water from Dongjiang (East River) to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Reservoir.

Dongjiang water is Hong Kong's major source of raw water. Under the current agreement, the supply quantity for 2004 was 820 million cubic metres. Negotiation with the Guangdong provincial authorities on the annual supply quantity beyond 2004 is in progress.

The Dongshen Water Supply System initially had an open channel design. To eliminate the water pollution problem, a closed aqueduct system was built. Since commissioning of the entire system in June 2003, there have been noticeable improvements in the quality of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2004, 411 million cubic metres of water were in storage, compared with 446 million cubic metres a year earlier. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held a total of 377 million cubic metres. Rainfall of 1 739 millimetres, equivalent to 21 per cent lower than the annual average of 2 214 millimetres, was recorded in 2004.

A peak daily consumption of 2.79 million cubic metres was recorded on — September 20, 2004, compared with the 2003 peak of 2.91 million cubic metres. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.61 million cubic metres, compared with the 2003 average of 2.67 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 955 million cubic metres, compared with 974 million cubic metres in 2003. In addition, 255 million cubic metres of sea water was supplied for flushing, compared with 241 million cubic metres in 2003.

Development of Alternative Water Resources

As part of the Total Water Management programme, the Government has started pilot schemes on seawater desalination and reclaimed water reuse employing advanced technologies with a view to exploring the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of utilising some of these water resources to meet part of the future water demand.

Water Works

Work is progressing on the first stage of the programme for the replacement and rehabilitation of some 3 050 kilometres of water-mains which began in December 2000. Detailed design of works for the second stage is scheduled to commence in 2005.

Wah Fu Fresh Water Service Reservoir and Sunny Bay Fresh Water Service Reservoir for providing potable water supply to the Cyperport and Hong Kong Disneyland respectively were completed. Construction is underway for the additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Kowloon West and East; Central, Wan Chai, North Point, Quarry Bay and Pok Fu Lam areas in Hong Kong Island; Tseung Kwan O, Ngong Ping, Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai in the New Territories. Major improvement works on the sea water supply system for Central Kowloon and Tsuen Wan continue.

Continuing planning work is in hand to increase the water supply capacity to meet demands from new developments in Central, Wan Chai, western and south-western areas on Hong Kong Island; Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong in Kowloon; and Sha Tin, Yuen Long, North Lantau, Tseung Kwan O, and the north-eastern and north-western New Territories. Major design works focus on the provision of additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Wan Chai, Kowloon East, West Kowloon Reclamation, Cha Kwo Ling, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin, Yuen Long , Tai Po, Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O and North Lantau.

Water Accounts and Customer Relations

The number of consumer accounts continues to rise at a rate of about 1.6 per cent per year and the consumer account base expanded to approximately 2.62 million accounts at year-end. To provide greater convenience to customers, applications for change of consumership, mailing address and water bill language for domestic account can be made on-line. The Water Supplies Department continues to act as an agent to collect general sewage charges on behalf of the Drainage Services Department.

To enhance both customer service and operational efficiency, the department commenced to roll out the core features of its Customer Care and Billing System (CCBS) in December 2004.

The voluntary Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme, launched since July 2002 to encourage proper maintenance of internal plumbing systems in buildings, continued to receive positive public support. More than 2 400 certificates of compliance were issued under the scheme, benefiting more than 600 000 customers.