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New Works

$10 billion for Major Projects

Given its task of carrying out the actual work on projects, the New Works Branch is spending some $10 billion on a number of major new projects over the next few years to supply water to new housing development and other construction areas throughout the territory.

Bird's eye view of Ngau Tam Mei Treatment Works under construction

Work is progressing in an advanced stage and on schedule on several other projects, including the Ngau Tam Mei Treatment Works Stage I - with a daily capacity of 230 000 cubic metres, the Tai Po Treatment Works Stage I, with a 250 000 cubic metre daily capacity, and the extension of the water supply system to the Tin Shui Wai Reserve Zone. Projects were also begun for supplying water to the proposed developments at the Yau Tong area, Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po and the Cyber Port.

Ongoing jobs include the water supply system to Tung Chung New Town; the expansion of the water supply systems in Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O New Towns; the Sham Tseng Treatment Works Stage II; the extension of water supply system to the West Kowloon Reclamation Stage II and the improvement of water supply systems in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island.

For the year 1998/99, a total of some $2.9 billion was spent under the Capital Works Reserve Fund.

Divisions

Headed by an Assistant Director, the New Works Branch carries out the actual work on projects based on feasibility and planning study reports prepared by the Planning Division to meet expected demand.

Following completion of the expansions in the mid-nineties of the raw water transfer system to receive the increasing quantity of water from Guangdong, the Branch has taken up a number of major jobs in expanding the water treatment, storage and distribution facilities.

Supporting the Assistant Director are several Chief Engineers who are in charge of divisions dealing with design, construction, project management and consultants management. While the more regular work is handled by in-house professionals, consultants are hired for special projects.

The Design Division produces timely detailed designs, prepares tender documents and invites tenders for waterworks projects within its in-house resources. To avoid interface problems, it also liaises with other departments and their consultants with regard to design and contract preparation for entrusted waterworks projects.

Among the more notable tasks with which it was involved were the fresh and sea water systems in Hong Kong Central and Western, Mid-Levels areas, North Point, Yau Tong, Cha Kwo Ling, Lei Yue Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Tin Shui Wai, Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun areas. It also compiled a set of design standard documents and a manual of mains laying practice and carried out the conversion of traditional water mains record drawings to digital forms.

The Construction Division deals with the administration of the contracts and supervision of the construction of waterworks, such as service reservoirs, treatment works and pipelines. It also administers the quantity surveying and the survey sections and the stores control.

It awarded four contracts amounting to $190 million during the year.

It is now strengthening its quality management with the aim of obtaining ISO 9000 Certification by 2001.

The two Consultants Management Divisions deal with the implementation and management of new projects and special studies entrusted to consultants, and the selection of consultants and management of the consultancy agreements. During the year, they handled consultancy agreements for some 20 major waterworks projects, including the construction of the Ngau Tam Mei Treatment Works and the Tai Po Treatment Works which employ the use of advanced water treatment technology, including biofiltration, ozonation and dissolved air flotation techniques. Other major projects include the inspection and maintenance of 700 registered slopes adjacent to WSD installations, fresh water supply to Tin Shui Wai to cater for the housing developments in the area, the disposal of sludge from existing water treatment works so as to comply with the latest legislative requirements and rehabilitation of watermains in many parts of Hong Kong.

The project management tasks for in-house projects are undertaken by the Project Management Division. It is largely concerned with strengthening the capacity and capability to deliver the waterworks projects within the set limits of time and budget while maintaining the highest quality of the services and product it provides.