Sewage is something that every human settlement must deal with : if we treat it lightly we put ourselves at risk of outbreak of water-borne diseases. The responsible handling of sewage is a big factor in maintaining a safe and healthy community, and everybody has a role to play.
Sewage Treatment in Hong Kong
Making sure that sewage is dealt with effectively and in a cost-efficient way is a huge challenge. Above 93% of the populace is currently served by the public sewerage system, with its sewerage network of about 1,800 kilometres and around 320 treatment facilities collecting and treating 2.8 million cubic metres sewage per day.
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![Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works](/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/hkwqrc/images/sewerage/sewerage-1.jpg) |
Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works |
Sewerage Master Plans
The EPD has devised 16 Sewerage Master Plans to serve the sewage needs of each catchment area in Hong Kong. These plans provide blueprints of the infrastructure required to collect sewage and direct it to treatment facilities before disposal into the sea. The recommended works set out in the plans are being implemented progressively to cater for the present and future development needs of Hong Kong. The plans are subject to regular review and updating to reflect revised population forecasts and the expected level of economic development.
Harbour Area Treatment Scheme
The Government has also upgraded the harbour area sewage treatment at a strategic level through implementation of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS). Stage 1 of HATS, which was brought into full operation in late 2001, included the construction of a chemically-enhanced primary sewage treatment works on Stonecutters Island. The treated sewage is discharged through an outfall into the western part of the Harbour. The areas served by Stage 1 include the whole of the Kowloon Peninsula, Tseung Kwan O, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan, Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan. Stage 2A was commissioned in late 2015, redirecting the remaining sewage from the northern and southwestern parts of Hong Kong Island, which previously received only preliminary treatment, to the newly expanded Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for chemically enhanced primary treatment and disinfection. The scheme has already substantially improved the overall water quality of Hong Kong's best known icon, Victoria Harbour.
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