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Washing
wheels before leaving construction site |
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Environmental Performance
and Improvement Targets
Although many aspects of our work have environment implications, not all
of them can be quantified easily or will necessarily be reported here.
For instance, those intangible benefits that the presence and functioning
of our sewerage/drainage systems and treatment facilities brings to the
environment cannot practically be measured. On the other hand, some tangible
benefits consequential to our treatment and disposal efforts were reported
separately in the environmental report of EPD and will not be duplicated
here. In any case, to reveal our environmental performance, a usable indicator
would be the measured effluent quality of our 58 treatment plants (including
24 preliminary, 2 primary, 1 CEPT and 31 secondary plants) operated by
us. As shown in Figure 7.1, the average effluent qualities of our CEPT
and major secondary treatment works in 2000 were very close to 100% meeting
the discharge requirements. Despite this notable achievement, as disclosed
in our last report, the biological treatment-based Shatin STW has continued
to suffer from overloading problems and occasionally encountered difficulty
in achieving the treatment target. In view of this, corresponding upgrading
works have been initiated and Phase I works were due for completion in
2004.
CEPT
treatment plant |
Secondary
treatment plants |
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![](images/ch07/3a.gif) |
![](images/ch07/3b.gif) |
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Allowable
flow |
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BOD |
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SS |
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TN |
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E.coli |
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Figure
7.1 |
Percentage
Compliance in 2000 for CEPT and Secondary Treatment Plants |
To ensure full compliance
of our STWs both now and in future, we continue to implement the following
tasks:
- expanding
and upgrading our treatment capacity as far as economically viable;
- progressively
upgrading older and malfunctioning facilities;
- conducting
inspections to uncover/remove illegal cross-connections which
allow influxes of wastewater of unacceptable quantity and strength
into our facilities;
- regularly
maintaining our plant and equipment to minimize occurrence of
breakdowns;
- devising
and implementing Contingency Plans at all of our facilities;
- working closely
with other Government departments, especially the EPD, and implementing
joint initiatives, e.g., the Beach Pollution Response Plan for
responding promptly/effectively to pollution incidents; and
- undertaking
extensive public education initiatives.
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We consider it important
to keep the public informed of the progress on our various programmes
initiated for enhancing environmental performance. Major environmental
objectives and targets, which encompass general management, construction
and operation of the sewerage and drainage systems, as well as green management,
are presented below.
In streamlining general management, we are committed to establishing and
implementing Quality and Environmental Management Systems (QMS and EMS)
progressively throughout the department. As an initial step, our laboratories
have acquired HOKLAS accreditation in the summer of 1999. Processing of
the remaining seven divisional ISO 9000 certifications are in progress
at present. We expect to complete two certifications in 2001 and the others
in 2002. The acquisition of a QMS serves as the building block for an
EMS. Regarding ISO 14001 certification, our Tai Po STW received the first
EMS certification for DSD in February 2001. In fact, the ISO 14001 EMS
had been fully implemented in the plant since September 2000. Significant
improvements have been achieved in many aspects of the plant operation
that include waste control, dangerous goods control, waste recycling and
other environmental improvement issues.
ISO 14001 EMS certification constitutes part of our department's endeavor
to serve the HK community with world-class drainage and sewage treatment
systems. We expect to extend it progressively to other works of the department
in due course. A summary of the current management initiatives is shown
in Table 7.1.
Table
7.1 |
Management
initiatives for improving environmental performance |
Objective |
Target |
Progress |
Progressively
implementing QMS and EMS throughout DSD |
To
acquire ISO 9000 certification for the whole department by 2002
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On
schedule. 2 and 5 certifications expected to be completed by 2001
and 2002 respectively. Planned acquisition of Corporate Certificate
by 2002
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To
acquire ISO 14001 certification for the Tai Po STW by mid-2001 |
Successful
completing of ISO 14001 certification for Tai Po STW in Feb 2001 and
ahead of schedule
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Regarding enhancement
of the sewerage system, programmes have progressively been initiated and
implemented. The current ones are summarized in Table 7.2 below.
Table
7.2 |
Sewage
system enhancement initiatives for improving environmental performance |
Objective |
Target |
Progress |
Continue
to improve the sewerage system in HK |
Completing
the HK Island South SMP by the end of 2000 |
Works
already completed in Dec 1999 and ahead of schedule
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Completing
the East Kowloon SMP by 2001
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On
schedule |
Completing
the North-West Kowloon SMP by 2003
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On
schedule |
Completing
the Tuen Mun SMP by 2004 |
Delayed
due to villagers' objection. Programme under review by EPD
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Completing the
Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi & Kwai Chung SMP by 2005
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On
schedule |
Minimize
the number of recurrent blockage incidence |
Working
towards the minimizing of the number of complaints received per km
of pipe to below the current rate of 14.5 per year
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Meeting
target, the rate achieved for year 2000 is 12.3 per km
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Minimize
environmental impacts arising from blocked sewers |
Further
improving on our Performance Pledge (currently 99% success rate) for
responding to, and resolving blockage/complaints
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Meeting
target, the success rate achieved for year 2000 is over 99%
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Improve
STW operation |
Completing
upgrading works at the Shek Wu Hui STW (adding aeration/final setting
tanks, digester and UV system) by late 2001
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On
schedule |
Completing
upgrading works at the Shatin STW (adding treatment units, UV system
and sludge dewatering plant) by 2009
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We
anticipate completion of the upgrading works by 2007 |
Reduce
energy consumption |
Ensuring
our facilities all operate on appropriate tariff rate by 2000
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All
our facilities are now operating on appropriate tariff rate
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Providing
automatic monitoring system for aeration tanks at STWs by 2000 to
optimize energy use
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Meeting
target. At Shatin STW, new sensors for dissolved oxygen and mixed
liquor suspended solids were installed in Jun 2000
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Reduce
chemical comsumption |
Initiating
feasibility studies in 2000 to examine alternative disinfection systems
at STWs to reduce the use of chemicals
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On
schedule. At Stanley STW, full-scale trial on multi-points chlorine
dosing method was conducted.
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Conducting
a research and development programme on disinfection techniques to
identify energy efficient, clean and cost-effective technologies
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On
schedule. Alternative techniques including ozone, electrochemical
and UV disinfection have been examined. Studies extended into year
2001
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Improve
operational performance & levels of treatment |
On-going
review of STW operations to identify ways to resolve potential overloading
problems and to minimize the occurrence of discharge non-compliance
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On-going.
At Shatin STW, new types of air diffuser and sludge scrapper were
due to be installed by early 2001 to alleviate overloading problem
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Regarding enhancement of the drainage system, various programmes have
been progressively initiated and implemented. The current major ones were
summarized in Table 7.3 below.
Table
7.3 |
Drainage
system enhancement initiatives for improving environmental performance |
Objective |
Target |
Progress |
Visual
enhancement of river training works, flood protection schemes and
drainage channels |
Formalizing
an inventory and procedures to ensure the incorporation of environmental
features into drainage and flood protection works by mid-2001
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On
schedule and completed in May 2001
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Minimise
the number of flooding blacks spots |
Reducing
the number of flooding black spots through the implementation of drainage
improvement projects, including:
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the
Shenzhen River Regulation Project Stage II by Dec 2000;
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Works
completed in Jun 2000 and ahead of schedule |
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the
Shenzhen River Regulation Project Stage III by Aug 2005;
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On
schedule |
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the
main drainage channels for Ngau Tam Mei by Aug 2002;
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On
schedule |
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the
village flood protection scheme for Pok Wai by Aug 2002;
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On
schedule |
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the
West Kowloon Drainage Improvement Works Stage 1 & 2 by end
of 2005
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On
schedule |
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the
eastern main drainage channel for San Tin by Sep 2005; and
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On
schedule |
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the
Yuen Long bypass floodway by Nov 2005
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On
schedule |
In green management,
we recorded our efforts in the reduction of energy/paper consumption,
reusing/recycling where possible and the avoidance of wastage etc. in
the annual Green Manager's Report. Further to the general initiatives,
noteworthy targets are highlighted in Table 7.4 below.
Table
7.4 |
Green
initiatives for improving environmental performance |
Objective |
Target |
Progress |
Enhance
the environmental awareness of the staff |
Reviewing
& implementing environmental awareness and training programmes
annually
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Recurrent
and ad hoc training have been provided annually to our staffs, e.g.
Continuing Professional Development Course for engineering graduates.
Engineers were also sent to attend seminar/course such as ISO 14000,
odor control, sustainability etc.
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Ongoing
enhancement of staff awareness to conserve energy and to avoid wastage
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Through
notices and Administrative Circulars, our staffs were constantly reminded
to be environmentally conscious
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Maximize
our purchase of Green Products
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Reviewing
purchasing policies in 2000 to identify opportunities for increasing
the purchase of Green Products |
Chlorine
free paper that contain 50% recycled pulp has been in use since year
2000
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Strive
to meet HKs objectives on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at our premises
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Conducting
regular IAQ audits, to ensure satisfactory air quality continues to
be maintained at our premises |
IAQ audits conducted
once every two years, improvement works in progress based on the
outcome of the Aug 2000 audit
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Monitor
the environmental performance of our contractors
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Ongoing
close monitoring of contractors through enforcement of contract terms
plus regular appraisal of their performance |
On-going.
Requirements for contractors were stipulated in contracts and performances
were monitored closely and appraised quarterly. Poor performance will
receive warning and penalty
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Enhance
the environmental awareness of the general public |
Outreach
Programme for educational purpose |
Programme
launched in Sep 1999 and completed successfully in Nov 2000. Our professional
staff had visited 53 secondary schools and the programme is being
reviewed
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