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Sustainable water supply infrastructure for Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Man Alan,
Ng Bobby,
Shou Stephanus,
Vickridge Ian
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2011.tb11494.x
Subject(s) - business , water supply , leakage (economics) , environmental economics , natural resource economics , investment (military) , demand management , environmental planning , environmental science , environmental engineering , economics , politics , political science , law , macroeconomics
Only about 20% of Hong Kong's water requirements can be supplied from local surface water sources. As a result, considerable effort and investment, such as the “reservoirs in the sea” and dual water supply concepts, have been undertaken to ensure that sufficient high‐quality water can be provided to meet Hong Kong's growing water demand. This article reports on Hong Kong's shift from supply‐side management (i.e., continual increase in developing infrastructure to meet increasing demand) to demand‐side management (i.e., reducing demand so that existing supplies can continue to provide a consistent and wholesome supply) and leakage reduction. Reduction in consumption and effective control of leakage are essential to ensuring that the region's water infrastructure will continue to meet the needs and expectations of Hong Kong's people as effectively as it has in the past.