Water pollutionWater pollution

A case of Hong KongA case of Hong Kong

Water conditions Water conditions in HKin HK

• Beach water qualityBeach water quality

• Marine water qualityMarine water quality

• River water qualityRiver water quality

Can you think of some impacts Can you think of some impacts of water pollution?of water pollution?

• Make swimmer sickMake swimmer sick

• Kill marine lifeKill marine life

• Give off bad smellGive off bad smell

Impact of water pollutionImpact of water pollution

• Red tides are blooms of micrRed tides are blooms of microscopic algae which produce oscopic algae which produce a characteristic pink or reddisa characteristic pink or reddish-brown colouration in seawh-brown colouration in seawater. ater.

• Red tides reduce sunlight peRed tides reduce sunlight penetration, and at night or whnetration, and at night or when the algae die, deplete DO ien the algae die, deplete DO in the water. n the water.

• Some species may also releasSome species may also release toxic substances. Red tides e toxic substances. Red tides can cause massive fish kills in can cause massive fish kills in marine fish culture zones thrmarine fish culture zones through removal of DO or direct ough removal of DO or direct poisoning. poisoning.

Beach water Beach water qualityquality• All very poor beacheAll very poor beache

s are found in Tsuen s are found in Tsuen Wan areaWan area

Annual ranking system for Annual ranking system for beachesbeachesRank Rank E. coliE. coli count count

per 100mL*per 100mL*Minor illness Minor illness rate**rate**(Cases per (Cases per 1000 1000 swimmers)swimmers)

WQO WQO ComplianceCompliance

GoodGood << 24 24 undetectablundetectablee

CompliedComplied

FairFair 25 – 18025 – 180 << 10 10 CompliedComplied

PoorPoor 181 - 610181 - 610 11 to 1511 to 15 Not Not compliedcomplied

Very PoorVery Poor > 610> 610 >15>15 Not Not compliedcomplied

*Geometric mean E. coli count calculated based on all the data collected *Geometric mean E. coli count calculated based on all the data collected during the bathing season. during the bathing season. ** Gastrointestinal and skin complaints** Gastrointestinal and skin complaints

Beach monitoring programmeBeach monitoring programme

• to assess compliance with the Water Quality Oto assess compliance with the Water Quality Objective; bjective;

• to detect any change in beach water quality; to detect any change in beach water quality; • to identify polluted beaches that need remedito identify polluted beaches that need remedi

al actions; al actions; • to evaluate pollution abatement programmes; to evaluate pollution abatement programmes; • to decide on the opening of beaches; and to decide on the opening of beaches; and • to advise the public on the beach water qualitto advise the public on the beach water qualit

y status. y status.

Marine water qualityMarine water quality• Hong Kong is divided into 10 Hong Kong is divided into 10 Water Control ZonesWater Control Zones (WC (WC

Zs) and each WCZ has a set of Zs) and each WCZ has a set of Water Quality ObjectivesWater Quality Objectives (WQOs).(WQOs).

• Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen (depth-average) (depth-average) Not less than 4m Not less than 4mg/L in 90% of the samplesg/L in 90% of the samples

• Dissolved Oxygen (bottom) Dissolved Oxygen (bottom) Not less than 2mg/L in 90 Not less than 2mg/L in 90% of the samples% of the samples

• Unionized AmmoniaUnionized Ammonia Annual mean Annual mean not exceeding 0.0 not exceeding 0.021mg/L21mg/L

• Total Inorganic NitrogenTotal Inorganic Nitrogen Ranging from annual mean Ranging from annual mean not exceeding 0.1mg/L in Southern Water Control Zone not exceeding 0.1mg/L in Southern Water Control Zone to not exceeding 0.7mg/L in Deep Bay Water Control Zoto not exceeding 0.7mg/L in Deep Bay Water Control Zone ne

• E.coli E.coli Annual geometric mean Annual geometric mean not exceeding 610/100 not exceeding 610/100mL in secondary contact recreational areas mL in secondary contact recreational areas

Black spots of marine Black spots of marine pollutionpollution

Poultry waste from the farms nearby caused eutrophication in a stream (Tai Tong)

Oyster farms at the Deep Bay are abandoned due to serious water pollution and the decline of importance in

oyster farming

Water pollution in PRD estuary due to intensive industrial development

Sometimes, you can "see" water pollution like the discharge of coloured bleaching and dyeing wastewater into a nullah as shown in the photo.

This photo shows the coloured water of Rambler Channel caused in the past by the discharge of bleaching and dyeing effluent into the sea.

Most typhoon shelters receive substantial pollution loadings from storm stormwater drains which receive raw sewage and industrial effluent via improper connections. Some discharges are from vessels themselves. Some vessel users also dump garbage into the water. As water movement is confined in a typhoon shelter, pollutants cannot be flushed out easily , thus exacerbating the pollution problems.

River water qualityRiver water quality

• EPD regularly monitors water quality at more than 80 EPD regularly monitors water quality at more than 80 sampling stations in over 30 rivers and streams in the sampling stations in over 30 rivers and streams in the territory.territory.

• In situIn situ field measurements are performed and water s field measurements are performed and water samples are collected for further laboratory analyses mamples are collected for further laboratory analyses mostly on a monthly basis. ostly on a monthly basis.

• The monitoring covers more than 40 parameters incluThe monitoring covers more than 40 parameters including physico-chemical characteristics, organics, nutriding physico-chemical characteristics, organics, nutrients, toxic metals and coliform bacteria. ents, toxic metals and coliform bacteria.

• The rates of annual compliance with the statutory WQThe rates of annual compliance with the statutory WQOs are assessed based on the data obtained during thOs are assessed based on the data obtained during the year.e year.

Water Quality Index (WQI) Water Quality Index (WQI) for Riversfor Rivers

• based on the level of dissolved oxygen, based on the level of dissolved oxygen, 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand and 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand and ammonia-nitrogenammonia-nitrogen

Improvements arising from Improvements arising from enforcing the Water Pollution enforcing the Water Pollution Control Ordinance Control Ordinance

RegionsRegions Before controlBefore control(kg BOD/day)(kg BOD/day)

At end of 2005At end of 2005(kg BOD/day)(kg BOD/day)

Percentage Percentage reductionreduction

Eastern New Eastern New Territories Territories (sum of 7 rivers)(sum of 7 rivers)

13,36513,365 2,5662,566 81%81%

Northwestern Northwestern New TerritoriesNew Territories(sum of 11 (sum of 11 rivers)rivers)

20,09520,095 3,9903,990 80%80%

Lantau IslandLantau Island(Mui Wo River)(Mui Wo River)

1515 00 100%100%

Southwestern Southwestern New Territories New Territories and Kowloonand Kowloon(sum of 4 rivers)(sum of 4 rivers)

7,2047,204 511511 93%93%

Total (23 Total (23 rivers)rivers)

40,67940,679 7,0677,067 83%83%

The Livestock Waste Control The Livestock Waste Control Scheme Scheme • introduced in 1987 and further revised in 1994. introduced in 1987 and further revised in 1994. • designated a series of designated a series of Prohibition AreasProhibition Areas in which the in which the

keeping of livestock was completely banned after 24 June keeping of livestock was completely banned after 24 June 1988. 1988.

• Farmers outside the Prohibition Areas were permitted to Farmers outside the Prohibition Areas were permitted to continue rearing livestock, but they were required to properly continue rearing livestock, but they were required to properly dispose of their waste and treat their effluentdispose of their waste and treat their effluent

• technical helptechnical help: : – publishing a code of practice and guidelines on waste treatment publishing a code of practice and guidelines on waste treatment

optionsoptions– setting up a private farm demonstration treatment plant. setting up a private farm demonstration treatment plant.

• established a free established a free livestock waste collection servicelivestock waste collection service• made made financial helpfinancial help available for farmers to install their own available for farmers to install their own

waste treatment facilities. waste treatment facilities. • provided incentives for farmers for whom the new system was provided incentives for farmers for whom the new system was

too difficult: it offered eligible farmers an too difficult: it offered eligible farmers an ex gratia allowanceex gratia allowance if they chose to close down their livestock business if they chose to close down their livestock business completely.  completely. 

Government policies – Government policies – three-pronged approachthree-pronged approach

• Controlling at sourceControlling at source

• Providing sewersProviding sewers

• Collecting and treating sewageCollecting and treating sewage

Controlling at sourceControlling at source• Water Pollution ContrWater Pollution Contr

ol Ordinanceol Ordinance• Specifications of meeSpecifications of mee

ting standards are coting standards are contained in licencesntained in licences

• Implementation by reImplementation by regular inspections, resgular inspections, response to complaints ponse to complaints and prosecutionsand prosecutions

Proving sewersProving sewers

• Extend public sewer Extend public sewer networks in NT and nnetworks in NT and new development areew development areasas

• It prepares sewerage It prepares sewerage masterplans and the masterplans and the works are carried by works are carried by Drainage Services DeDrainage Services Departmentpartment

Collecting and treating Collecting and treating sewagesewage

Sewage treatment plant in Shatin

Procedures of treating waste water

Storm Water and

Sewage Collection

HATSHATS

• Harbour Area Treatment Harbour Area Treatment SchemeScheme

• Stage 1: sewage from KoStage 1: sewage from Kowloon and part of HK wloon and part of HK Stonecutters Island SewStonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SIage Treatment Works (SISTW) for chemical treatSTW) for chemical treatment (late 2001)ment (late 2001)

• Stage 2: sewage from N Stage 2: sewage from N & SW HK island & SW HK island SISTW SISTW for chemical treatment for chemical treatment (2A) and biological treat(2A) and biological treatment (2B)ment (2B)

Implementation of Implementation of HATSHATS• Whilst Government will shoulder the cost Whilst Government will shoulder the cost

of constructing Stage 2, the full operatinof constructing Stage 2, the full operating costs will have to be recovered through g costs will have to be recovered through sewage charges. .

• The public consultation demonstrated thThe public consultation demonstrated that the majority of respondents support that the majority of respondents support this application of the "is application of the "polluter pays" prinpolluter pays" principleciple. . With the introduction of the sewage charWith the introduction of the sewage charge, dischargers are required to pay the coge, dischargers are required to pay the cost of the sewage services according to thst of the sewage services according to the e qualityquality and and quantityquantity of their discharge. of their discharge.

• Domestic HouseholdsDomestic HouseholdsThe only charge is the The only charge is the Sewage ChargeSewage Charge (S (SC) at a prescribed rate of $1.20 per cubic C) at a prescribed rate of $1.20 per cubic metre of water consumed, with exemptiometre of water consumed, with exemption for the first 12 cubic metres, in a four-mn for the first 12 cubic metres, in a four-month billing period.onth billing period.

• Trade, Business and ManufactureTrade, Business and ManufactureThe charges include a The charges include a Trade Effluent SuTrade Effluent Surchargercharge (TES) (TES)

Improvements madeImprovements made

• No. of beaches meeting Water Quality Objective for batNo. of beaches meeting Water Quality Objective for bathing water increased from 24 in 1995 to 34 in 2005.hing water increased from 24 in 1995 to 34 in 2005.

• No. of river monitoring stations with bad or very bad wNo. of river monitoring stations with bad or very bad water quality dropped from 52% in 1988 to less than 15ater quality dropped from 52% in 1988 to less than 15% in recent years.% in recent years.

• Toxic metal discharges reduced from 7,000 kg/day in 1Toxic metal discharges reduced from 7,000 kg/day in 1993 to 2,000 kg/day in 2000993 to 2,000 kg/day in 2000

• 75% of sewage around Victoria Harbour receives chemi75% of sewage around Victoria Harbour receives chemical treatment due to HATScal treatment due to HATS

• Dissolved oxygen in harbour waters increased by 10%Dissolved oxygen in harbour waters increased by 10%• Drop in red tides in Tolo Harbour from 43 in 1988 to lesDrop in red tides in Tolo Harbour from 43 in 1988 to les

s than 20 in recent yearss than 20 in recent years

Regional issuesRegional issues

• Regional cooperation with Regional cooperation with Guangdong GovernmentGuangdong Government

• 15-year-plan to clean up Deep Bay15-year-plan to clean up Deep Bay

• In mid-2003, a regional water quality In mid-2003, a regional water quality management strategy was management strategy was formulatedformulated