Authorities dispel worries over city’s water supply

Authorities assured the public on Friday that Hong Kong’s water supply is stable after a lengthy heat wave and images of dry mudflats in parched reservoirs sparked concern.

Tsang Chung-man, a senior engineer at the special administrative region government’s Water Supplies Department, said storage of local reservoirs has remained at a “normal” level and will increase in coming months.

Earlier, the storage at Hong Kong’s 17 impounding reservoirs dropped to just 60 percent of gross capacity — arousing wide concern over a possible water shortage.

On Monday water level at Aberdeen Lower Reservoir was only 26.75 percent of capacity, and that at Lower Shing Mun Reservoir was merely 12.49 percent.

Tsang noted that 60 to 70 percent is a normal level which is rarely reached in Hong Kong. He expected rainfall from next month to December, which usually contributes 70 percent of the annual amount, to elevate levels.

He also expected the city’s water consumption will be unchanged at 980 million cubic meters this year despite continuous high temperatures and poor rainfall last month.

To meet demand, ensuring sufficient supply from Dongjiang River is critical as this source contributes 70 to 80 percent of Hong Kong’s freshwater supply.

Hong Kong has imported fresh water from Dongjiang in Guangdong province since 1965 as the local runoff is inadequate to meet the city’s demand.

According to the contracts signed between officials of the SAR and Guangdong province, supply will not be affected, even in the event of the region facing its most severe drought in 100 years.

Chan Hon-fai, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies, said Hong Kong could even import water from other reservoirs in Guangdong should the current supply not quench the thirst of the city under extreme weather conditions.

Xinfengjiang Reservoir in Guangdong’s Heyuan city may be a potential choice, as it has kept a relatively high level having benefited from sufficient rainfall, Chan ventured. Xinfengjiang is the largest tributary of the Dongjiang.

The city’s rainfall could rebound in the typhoon season which lasts until November. Rainfall last month was just 57 millimeters, one fifth of the average recorded in May over the past 20 years.

Last month was also the hottest May Hong Kong people have endured in the past 134 years, with temperatures reaching or exceeding 33 C on 15 days.