In 2018-19, DSD progressed well in sewage treatment and flood prevention, achieving remarkable results. DSD actively applied smart technology to construction and upgrading of sewage treatment plants; the commencement of the Upgrading of San Wai Sewage Treatment Works (STW) Phase 1 demonstrated DSDs’ determination to apply smart technology. During the year, we continued to work shoulder to shoulder with academia and the industry to conduct research on blue-green infrastructure; on energy conservation; and emission reduction measures; and on renewable energy, hoping to enhance DSD’s performance in sewage treatment and flood prevention, while encouraging the development of innovative technologies.

The Research & Development (R&D) Forum 2018 was held by DSD on 5 December 2018. The forum was divided into a morning session and an afternoon session under the themes “Smart City • Innovative Stormwater Management” and “Smart City • Innovative Wastewater Management” respectively. This year’s forum was yet another success attracting more than 500 scholars, professionals and representatives of the industry to take part in discussion. The areas of discussion covered smart technologies, sustainable initiatives and innovative stormwater and wastewater management.

The R&D Forum, which has been held by DSD for the past 13 years is one of the Department’s major annual events. The Department invited leading industry practitioners and experts to deliver keynote speeches at the forum, which provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange views, learn about the latest technologies as well as to explore opportunities for collaboration, thereby creating a better and sustainable living environment.

On 14 December 2018, DSD held a topping-out ceremony for the San Wai STW Phase 1 to mark significant milestone in the progress of the project. Procured under a Design-Build-Operate (DBO) arrangement, the contract commenced in May 2016 with the construction works scheduled for completion in 2020. Upon completion of San Wai STW Phase 1, the sewage treatment facilities will provide a daily treatment capacity of 200,000 cubic metres to cope with the development needs in the area. The project will also upgrade the treatment level of San Wai STW from preliminary treatment to chemically enhanced primary treatment providing ultra-violet disinfection facilities, thereby further enhancing the environmental performance of the San Wai STW.

Not only did the project team use smart technology such as Building-Information-Modelling (BIM) in the design and construction stages of the project, they also set up a demonstration booth after the topping-out ceremony to further introduce guests to the San Wai STW and the application of smart technology.

The administration building and workshop for the San Wai STW Phase 1 were awarded Platinum Rating of Provisional Assessment under BEAM Plus (New Buildings) from the Hong Kong Green Building Council, while the project team was also awarded “The Grand Award” for Contractors and Site Supervisory Staff under DSD’s “Construction Site Housekeeping Award Scheme 2018”.