Why is Water So Scarce in Hong Kong?

Writer - Nicholas & Javeriah Photographer - Nicholas

Posted September 30, 2024

The Plover Cove Reservoir is the first reservoir in Hong Kong built as a “reservoir in the sea.” It is a popular spot for holiday cycling.

It’s difficult to imagine a world without water. It is a resource that supports entire ecosystems, economies and all life on our planet. However, in Hong Kong, this is a matter of concern on a daily basis, and the region is constantly dependent on external sources for this vital resource. Hong Kong struggles with water scarcity despite its advanced infrastructure and thriving economy.

Contributing to this scarcity is a complex mixture of environmental issues, political dynamics and geographical limitations.

In this article, we’ll look into what causes this water shortage in Hong Kong, highlighting the reasons behind this problem, and Hong Kong’s reliance on external resources for its water supply.

Geographical Restrictions

With its location on China's southeast coast, Hong Kong faces significant geographical obstacles in terms of water supplies. The region's natural water storage capacity is restricted due to its rough topography. 75% of Hong Kong’s total land area consists of hills and mountains. In contrast to many other large cities that can access large groundwater reserves or freshwater rivers, Hong Kong is mostly dependent on rainfall to restock its water supply.

In addition to dams and reservoirs, sewage treatment is a key practice for conserving water supplies. Hong Kong has several sewage treatment facilities, and the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works is one of them.

Dependency on Mainland China

Although Hong Kong has a few native water sources, a key component of its water management policy is its reliance on mainland China for its water supply. As per the terms of the "Dongjiang Water Supply Agreement," Guangdong Province in mainland China provides freshwater to Hong Kong.

However, Hong Kong is in a risky situation as a result of its reliance on outside resources. Water security in the city may suffer greatly from any interruption in the supply chain, whether it is brought on by infrastructural problems, environmental conditions, or political unrest. The requirement to pipe water across large distances presents another set of difficulties and increases the risk of reduced crucial household access to water if there are any disruptions to the supply infrastructure.

Political Dynamics and Environmental Concerns

The complex connection between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland goes beyond agreements on water supply and trade. The stability of Hong Kong's water supply may be impacted by political unrest and problems with governance. The quantity and quality of water resources in the area are also seriously threatened by climate change and environmental degradation.

Water bodies in mainland China have deteriorated because of rapid urbanization and pollution, which have an impact on the quality of water delivered to Hong Kong from the mainland.

Rising temperatures, more frequent droughts, and altered precipitation patterns can put a strain on available water supplies and cause supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, the infrastructure along the Hong Kong shoreline including treatment plants and water intake facilities, are at risk from rising sea levels.

The “Big Water Pipes” in Hong Kong transport water from the East River. They are now a hidden photo spot for photography lovers.

There are serious doubts about the long-term viability of the current water supply arrangements. The standing agreement may not be fit for purpose as we look towards the future.

Dams and Reservoirs

A handful of Hong Kong's dams and reservoirs, such as the Plover Cove Reservoir and the High Island Reservoir, are important water storage facilities. However, the fact remains that these reservoirs can only be relied on temporarily. Hong Kong's population of over 7 million people, and its booming economy, mean that the city's local reservoirs simply cannot hold the amount of water required to sustain the supply to the entire region for any extended period of time. According to the Hong Kong Water Supplies Department, the annual freshwater consumption of Hong Kong in fiscal year 2022-2023 was 1074.53  Million Cubic Metres. With usage so high, it became clear Hong Kong's current reservoirs could barely support the city for a few months if the external supply was stopped. But, this duration can shorten significantly in times of increased demand or prolonged drought.

Hong Kong’s Water Sources

Hong Kong's water supply comes mostly from two sources: Dongjiang water from Guangdong Province and rainwater. Geographical limitations faced by the city, in particular the scarcity of natural storage reservoir sites, required creative solutions such as strategically placing reservoirs.

Rainfall and Reservoirs

Due to a lack of appropriate sites for conventional reservoirs, novel solutions such as the "reservoir in the sea" idea were developed, where areas of ocean are dammed off and drained of saline water, then refilled with freshwater to be stored offshore. Plover Cove was Hong Kong's first reservoir of this type. Completed in 1967, its capacity was expanded to 230 million cubic meters in 1973 from its initial holding of 170 million cubic meters. A more expansive project at High Island, finished in 1978, has a 280 million cubic meter capacity. The reservoirs in Hong Kong can contain about 586 million cubic meters of water combined.

Guangdong Supply

Hong Kong and the Guangdong government signed a deal for the delivery of Dongjiang water starting in 1965. Currently, Dongjiang provides the city with between 70 and 80 percent of its water. In 2023 alone, 820 million cubic meters were imported. Up to 1.1 billion cubic meters of water per year can be supplied to Hong Kong via the Dongshen-Hong Kong water delivery line.

In Hong Kong, the average daily fresh water consumption per person is about 150 liters. About 40% is for bathing, 10% for laundry, and 50% for cooking and other uses, like at Dai Pai Dong.

Sea Water

Leveraging seawater for non-potable uses like flushing is an interesting and unique feature of Hong Kong's water system. Seawater is supplied via distinct networks of distribution pipes, pumping stations, and service reservoirs. Between April 2022 and March 2023, the city supplied its households an average of about 878,000 cubic meters of seawater per day.

Domestic Water Consumption

Hong Kong’s dependency on imported water highlights the difficulties in supplying domestic demand in an area that, by nature, is deficient in water resources. The false sense of plenty of this imported water has given rise to hasty consumption habits among Hong Kong citizens.

When asked about Hong Kong’s domestic consumption and below-average water tariffs, Berto Lee, an environmental scientist said, "Water is too cheap, it neither reflects the water’s true value nor does it cover the cost of production."

The beautiful night view of Victoria Harbour. As Hong Kong is surrounded by water, we have enough resources to keep our lands healthy and safe.

High Patterns of Consumption

When compared to other prosperous Asian regions, Hong Kong residents use more water. Water use from routine household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and showering is significant.

Water's low cost does not compensate for the costs of getting it into Hong Kong, nor does it represent its full value. There is a severe lack of incentives for water conservation because the existing price system does little to promote better usage habits.

According to Evan Auyang, head of the environmental think tank Civic Exchange, who published a study on Hong Kong's water problems titled ‘The Illusion of Plenty’ mentioned how "There is an illusion that Hong Kong has an infinite source of fresh water supply." He attributes this to inadequate enforcement of water conservation regulations, cheap water charges, and loopholes in water agreements.

Uncertain Future Water Supply

Even if the current water supply system seems to be working well, Hong Kong's future water security is still unknown. Due to increased competition for Dongjiang water brought about by the region's own economic expansion, the Guangdong government has been imposing water extraction limitations since 2006.

The Dongjiang is already running at its exploitation limit, and the vulnerability of Hong Kong's water supply is further increased by pollution, harsh weather, and rising temperatures. According to Berto Lee, an environmental scientist, "Hong Kong won’t be able to rely on the Dongjiang River to provide the bulk of its freshwater supply in the future.”

Hong Kong's water supply faces challenges due to a growing population and increasing pollution.

Rising Expenses and Unpredictability

The expense and difficulty of importing water has increased over the last ten years, as seen by the doubling of the price of Dongjiang water. The existing system is not sustainable, even before factoring the impact of the Dongjiang River completely running dry. The increasing expenses associated with importing water provide a substantial risk to the economic stability of Hong Kong and emphasize the need for more sustainable water management strategies.

Although Hong Kong's imported water supply system has been crucial in supplying the city's residential water needs, it has also encouraged complacency and overindulgent usage among its citizens. To ensure the long-term sustainability of Hong Kong's water supply, it is essential to address the disparity between water pricing and the real value of this resource.

Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai displays the flags of China and Hong Kong, representing their bond and pride.

Efforts to Reduce Water Scarcity

The Hong Kong government has launched several programs in recognition of the importance of the sustainable management of the water supply and water conservation. These include funding infrastructure projects to increase the capacity for water storage, endorsing water-saving technology, and putting in place water pricing schemes to promote conservation.

Additionally, the goal of educational initiatives and public awareness campaigns is to encourage companies and citizens to adopt a water-saving mindset. Hong Kong aims to lessen demand and ease the strain on its finite water resources by encouraging efficient methods and responsible water usage. To protect Hong Kong's water security, creative long-term sustainability solutions must be put into practice together with effective resource allocation.

The government is working on methods to conserve water resources and reduce pollution.

Water Treatment

Hong Kong has a thorough approach to water treatment to provide clean and safe drinking water. Chemical coagulation, flocculation, clarity, filtration, pH correction, fluoride, and ozone/chlorine disinfection are all used to make sure water is safe for drinking. This drinking water complies with the strict criteria specified by the Hong Kong administration. The final product is soft to the taste, pure, and safe to drink, which is more than can be said for many modern cities.

Conclusion

The issue of the shortage of water in Hong Kong has a wide range of causes, influenced by geographic limitations, political tussling with mainland China, environmental difficulties, and an overreliance on external resources.

Even though Hong Kong does have some of its own natural water resources, the fact that the majority of its water supply comes from mainland China makes it susceptible to interruptions and emphasizes the need for sustainable water management techniques.

Hong Kong has effective measures and areas to reserve water, and the High Island Reservoir is one of them.

To ensure a safe and sustainable water future for Hong Kong, it is crucial to invest in strong infrastructure, promote water conservation, and build collaboration with mainland China to ensure the supply doesn’t run out, especially as the city struggles with the effects of climate change and rising urbanization. The issue of water scarcity is a real impending crisis on Hong Kong's horizon, casting doubt on its very survival, a survival that cannot be achieved unless the region takes proactive measures and acts to ensure a sustainable water supply system is put in place to keep the taps running for years to come.