DSD is committed to providing world-class stormwater drainage and wastewater treatment services, enabling the sustainable development of Hong Kong. During the year, the largest environmental infrastructure project in Hong Kong, The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) – Stage 2A was commissioned, which would improve the water quality of Victoria Harbour to provide better living environment and quality for the public.
Overview of Flood Prevention in 2015-16
- Eliminated two more flooding blackspots at Ping Kong, Sheung Shui and Nam Wa Po, Tai Po
- The drainage improvement works proposed in the Drainage Master Plan (DMP) Reviews of Yuen Long district, Northern New Territories and Happy Valley are under construction or design
- Drainage Master Plan (DMP) Reviews of the West Kowloon and the East Kowloon were completed in 2015
Overview of Sewage Treatment in 2015-16
- DSD operates 300 sewage treatment facilities
- About 1 billion cubic metres of sewage was treated over the year, i.e. on average 2.8 million cubic metres per day
- 393,000 tonnes of sludge were processed during the year
- The public sewerage network runs 1,700 kilometres in length, serving around 93% of Hong Kong’s population
| For details about the drainage and sewerage facilities under planning, design and construction, please refer to the Full Report. |
Full Commissioning of Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A
The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) is the largest environmental infrastructure project in Hong Kong, with an aim to improve the water quality of Victoria Harbour by collecting and treating sewage generated from both shores. The project has was implemented in two stages, with construction works spanning over two decades at a total cost of $25.8 billion.
With facilities for HATS Stage 2A came into full operation on 19 December 2015, all sewage from both sides of Victoria Harbour are now conveyed to a sewage treatment plant for treatment, disinfection and discharge into the western approaches of the harbour. This milestone for HATS marks the overall enhancement of water quality across the harbour.
Physical constraints were overcome by cutting-edge engineering techniques adopted in this project, enabling the construction of deep sewage tunnels totalling over 44 kilometres in length at depths up to 160 metres below sea level. HATS also involved upgrading the sewage treatment capacity of Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW) to 900 million cubic metres per year, enabling it to serve more than five million citizens.
Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works
Highlights of HATS
Hong Kong’s largest ever environmental infrastructure project
World’s deepest sewage tunnel
Asia’s longest very deep sewage tunnel
World’s largest CEPT plant
Most efficient use of land for providing CEPT
Environmental infrastructure project spanning the most districts in Hong Kong
World’s most powerful sewage pumping system in a CEPT plant
Benefits of HATS
After the full commissioning of Stage 2A, all sewage from either side of Victoria Harbour is now collected, treated and disinfected prior to discharge. With the significant improvements in water quality, cross-harbour races resumed in 2011 after years of suspension at the east of the Victoria Harbour. As water quality of the beaches in Tsuen Wan district has also been improved drastically, closed beaches were reopened for public enjoyment.
