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Ernest Kao

The long-awaited results of a review into the city’s water management and conservation strategy should be released in the second half of the year.
The Water Supplies Department said it would then discuss the results with advisory bodies, green groups, professionals and academics.
Consultants were appointed to conduct the Total Water Management strategy review in 2014.
“The objectives of the review are to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing water management initiatives and project long-term water demand and supply with due regard to the effects of climate change,” the department said.
Think tank floats ‘fairer’ water supply deal as Hong Kong’s bill rises
The plan is expected to include new initiatives and strategies for ensuring the sustainable use of water during climate change.
The strategy, revealed in 2008, aims to achieve more sustainable water consumption through campaigns and public education.
Among initiatives implemented then was a voluntary “Let’s Save 10L Water” campaign, together with a push for homes to install flow controllers, expansion of the seawater flush system and a ­reduction of leaks during distribution.
Experts criticised the strategy for being piecemeal and ineffective. Without mandatory targets, the strategy also failed to reduce water use.
In 2008, 129.1 litres of freshwater were consumed per capita per day. By 2014, this had ­increased to 132 litres per person. Residents now use 96.5 litres of flush water daily, which is four more litres than in 2008.
“I believe they should introduce hard reduction targets in the revised strategy,” said Dr Michael Lai Wai-neng, a member of the government’s advisory committee on water supplies. “This is how progress in conservation can be measured.”
Why Hong Kong shouldn’t take clean, plentiful water for granted
Dr Frederick Lee Yok-shiu, head of the University of Hong Kong’s water governance ­research programme, said the ­inability to conserve water came down to values and low costs. “In Hong Kong, people don’t value water. There is a lack of water ­conservation ethics,” he said.
Heavily “underpriced” ­imports from the Dongjiang – the East River – in Guangdong, from which the city gets 80 per cent of its fresh water, also gave the public less incentive to use less, Lee said. “We are not paying the true cost of water.”
The cost of conservation work in areas upstream from Hong Kong needed to be priced into the supply contract with Guangdong and be made more transparent, he added.
The department said it ­was continuing to review water tariffs, taking into account public affordability, the financial performance of waterworks, the economy and the views of lawmakers.


Hong Kong water management and conservation report set for release later this year

About 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s water is piped in from the Dongjiang in Guangdong province. Photo: Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Academics say water is underpriced and Hong Kong needs to set targets to reduce use as climate change takes hold


Hong Kong water management and conservation report set for release later this year

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Academics say water is underpriced and Hong Kong needs to set targets to reduce use as climate change takes hold

Academics say water is underpriced and Hong Kong needs to set targets to reduce use as climate change takes hold