Law Compliance
All sewage treatment works and relevant new works (Designated Projects)
are regulated by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) under the
Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) and the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) respectively, in addition to other relevant
environmental legislations. We directly held 29 discharge licences under
the WPCO and 19 various Environmental Permits under the EIA Ordinance.
Percentage Compliance in 2004 for CEPT and Secondary Treatment
Plants
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To measure performance and to guard against pollution,
we have an intensive programme to monitor the quality of discharge at all
of the sewage treatment works. Effluent is sampled and tested. Anomalies
are immediately identified, reported to EPD and corrective action made.
Data are compiled and sent to EPD for reference every month. Some major
sewage works such as Shatin, Tai Po, Shek Wu Hui and Sai Kung also have
online sensors to monitor TSS, NH3-N, NOx-N of the final effluent.
We thoroughly complied with the EIA Ordinance in 2004. Apart from
conducting EIAs, we also adhered to Environmental Monitoring and Audit
requirements of EIAO Environmental Permits. Our contractors had eight convicted environmental offences
in 2004, a reduction of 40% from the 14 convicted cases in 2003. Among
the eight cases, two related to irregularities in dust control at
construction sites, one on construction site drainage and five on noise
offence.
We have step up our efforts in site supervision and contractor management
with a view to further improving our environmental performance.
Since 2004, we have launched a "Construction
Site Housekeeping Award Scheme" to promote cleanliness,
tidiness and good hygiene of our construction sites and
to give recognition to contractors for their achievement
in performing outstandingly in these respects. Our project and site staff holds regular site safety and environmental
meetings with the contractors to promote and reinforce the
contractors' awareness in environmental protection. We are committed to environmental protection
and we will take regulating action against contractors with
poor environmental protection records.
Management of Environmental Risks
Due to the polluting nature of sewage, we recognise the potential threat
of sewage overflows upon bathing beaches, the sea or even in the street.
We keep ourselves ready to
respond immediately to overflow
of sewage from anywhere in the sewerage system or the sewage treatment
works. Contingency Plans are drawn up for individual sewage treatment
works and major pumping stations. Guidelines for classification, response
and reporting of sewage bypass are agreed with the environmental
authority and communicated to all relevant offices. The line of
communication with the environmental authority is also well defined and
the telephone list regularly updated.
Risks can be
minimised by planned inspection, desilting, proactive repairs and upgrading
in order to ensure our systems are in proper working conditions . In
2004, 627 km of sewer were cleansed, 4956 m3 of silt were removed from
sewers.
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