Chapter 3
Overview
 


Goal

Flood Prevention

Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal

 

Goal

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) is charged with the responsibilities for affording the community a good standard of flood protection and providing effective treatment of wastewater through planning, constructing and operating the stormwater drainage, sewage treatment and sewerage infrastructures.

Flood Prevention

Most parts of Hong Kong (HK) do not suffer from serious flooding. However, flooding occurs frequently and excessively in the natural flood plains and low-lying areas of the northern part of the New Territories (NT). It is also a recurring problem in the older urban areas, like West Kowloon, because of the inadequacy of the existing drainage system.

To solve the problem, we are implementing a massive $7 billion flood prevention programme of large scale river training works and village flood protection schemes in the NT, and a $4 billion programme of urban drainage improvement works in West Kowloon to raise the standard of flood protection substantially. In addition, we are planning a comprehensive programme of drainage improvement works amounting to $10 billion aimed at providing the whole territory with a very high degree of flood protection.

Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal

All urban areas of HK and 95% of the households are provided with public sewerage. The amount of sewage generated by the community exceeds 2.3 million cubic metres a day. Our job is of two-fold. Firstly, we must ensure that the existing sewerage network and sewage treatment facilities are operated and maintained properly and efficiently such that sewage is collected, treated and disposed of safely to the required standard. Secondly, we need to upgrade the existing sewerage infrastructure and build new facilities to serve the continuously expanding urban developments in the territory and to meet higher environmental standards demanded by the community. We are currently constructing $24.1 billion of new and improvement works and are committed to invest a further $7.6 billion in the next few years to bring Hong Kong's sewerage infrastructure to international standards.


Shatin Sewage Treatment Works

Settled sewage entering an aeration tank.