As mentioned, if the situation had deviated from the present projections due to reasons such as higher-than-expected population growth, worse-than-projected impact of climate change on rainfall or less-than-anticipated effect of containing water demand growth, we still have the capabilities to overcome by implementation of a list of backup options that have been formulated in the Review. The backup options include implementation of second stage of TKO desalination plant, reactivation of mothballed water treatment works on Hong Kong Island11, expansion of storage capacity of the Plover Cove Reservoir and water gathering grounds12, implementation of other desalination plants13, and increase of Dongjiang water supply.
Due to the considerations14 of the cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, energy consumption etc. in the multi-criteria evaluation, the above backup options were not accorded with priorities in the Strategy 2019.
In order to ensure that the people of Hong Kong will continue to enjoy adequate and reliable water supply, the Government is implementing the water demand and water supply management measures of the Strategy 2019. We can never afford complacency, however, in face of unpredictable impacts of climate change and unforeseen circumstances. We will therefore continuously monitor the water demand and supply situation. If the situation had deviated from the present projections, we will implement the appropriate backup options as necessary.
Note:-
| 11. | Reactivate the mothballed Eastern Water Treatment Works (WTW) and Aberdeen WTW so as to fully utilise the local yield captured from the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs and Aberdeen Group of Reservoirs respectively. |
| 12. | Construction of a reservoir at high level in the Plover Cove Reservoir is proposed to increase the water storage capacity. In addition, expansion of water gathering grounds of Plover Cove Reservoir and High Island Reservoir will increase the yield of these reservoirs. |
| 13. | Desalination plants other than the first and second stages of the TKO desalination plant. |
| 14. | Expansion of storage capacity of the Plover Cove Reservoir by constructing a high level reservoir and expansion of water gathering grounds will impact on Country Parks and ecology; reactivation of mothballed Water Treatment Works on Hong Kong Island will involve substantial uprating works but only treat a moderate amount of fresh water; implementation of other desalination plants will increase significantly energy consumption and the running cost will also be high. |