Water Quality Monitoring at Tai Shui Hang

Environmental Protection Department (hereafter referred to as "EPD") has been continuously conducting water quality monitoring at Tai Shui Hang near the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill. Regular water sampling and testing are conducted at four designated water quality monitoring points (namely TSH1, TSH2, TSH3 and TSH4) as shown in the figure below. The EPD collects water samples twice per month during, before and after the wet season (i.e. March to October of each year) and once per month during the dry season (i.e. November to February of the following year). The water quality in Tai Shui Hang is monitored and assessed with reference to the Water Quality Index (WQI) used by the EPD.
 
Locations of Water Quality Monitoring Points at Tai Shui Hang

Locations of Water Quality Monitoring Points at Tai Shui Hang

Water Quality Index (WQI) for Rivers in Hong Kong

Water Quality Index (WQI) is a numerical value used to gauge and denote, based on monitoring data, the overall state of health of rivers and streams in Hong Kong. The WQI is calculated based on three key water quality parameters: dissolved oxygen, five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and ammonia-nitrogen levels. The index is classified into five grades (Excellent, Good, Fair, Bad and Very Bad) and the scoring is based on the calculation method shown in the table below.

Calculation of WQI

No. of points awarded

Dissolved Oxygen
(% saturation)

BOD5
(mg/L)

Ammonia Nitrogen
(mg/L)

1

91 – 110

< 3

< 0.5

2

71 – 90

111 – 120

3.1 – 6.0

0.5 – 1.0

3

51 – 70

121 – 130

6.1 – 9.0

1.1 – 2.0

4

31 – 50

9.1 – 15.0

2.1 – 5.0

5

< 30 or > 130

> 15.0

> 5.0

 

All parameters carry equal weighting, and the WQI is the sum of points converted from these three parameters. The WQI values range from 3 to 15, corresponding to the following gradings of river water quality conditions.

WQI gradings

WQI

River Water Quality Condition

3.0 – 4.5

Excellent

4.6 – 7.5

Good

7.6 – 10.5

Fair

10.6 – 13.5

Bad

13.6 – 15.0

Very Bad

 

For further details about the WQI assessment and grading, please visit this website.

 

Water Quality Monitoring Data at Tai Shui Hang (2024 to October 2026)

Water Quality Monitoring Point (1)

Dissolved Oxygen

(% saturation)

5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L)

Ammonia Nitrogen (mg/L)WQIRiver Water Quality Condition
Date of sample taken : 9/1/2024
TSH1114.2<20.314Excellent
TSH2150<20.387Good
TSH3102.6<2<0.013Excellent
TSH499.8<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 20/2/2024
TSH197.8<20.173Excellent
TSH296.9<20.433Excellent
TSH3108.8<20.0723Excellent
TSH497.5<20.0393Excellent
Date of sample taken : 15/3/2024
TSH185.1<20.144Excellent
TSH266.7<20.225Good
TSH393.6<20.0173Excellent
TSH491.1<20.0133Excellent
Date of sample taken : 25/3/2024
TSH1108.7<20.0563Excellent
TSH2105.3<20.383Excellent
TSH394.1<2<0.013Excellent
TSH487<20.024Excellent
Date of sample taken : 3/4/2024
TSH198.1<20.13Excellent
TSH289.4<20.795Good
TSH397.2<20.0153Excellent
TSH490.1<20.0274Excellent
Date of sample taken : 18/4/2024
TSH1125.7<20.0635Good
TSH298.6<20.0593Excellent
TSH387<20.0124Excellent
TSH487<2<0.014Excellent
Date of sample taken : 9/5/2024
TSH183.6<2<0.014Excellent
TSH286.6<2<0.014Excellent
TSH383.5<20.0214Excellent
TSH484.2<20.0264Excellent
Date of sample taken : 17/5/2024
TSH1126.2<20.0645Good
TSH2119.62.10.114Excellent
TSH3114.5<20.0534Excellent
TSH493.1<20.0663Excellent
Date of sample taken : 12/6/2024
TSH183.4<20.0244Excellent
TSH282.52.2<0.014Excellent
TSH393.4<20.0253Excellent
TSH492.2<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 20/6/2024
TSH188.5<2<0.014Excellent
TSH293.9<20.013Excellent
TSH391.3<20.0193Excellent
TSH489.4<2<0.014Excellent
Date of sample taken : 3/7/2024
TSH192.2<20.0213Excellent
TSH2110.1<2<0.013Excellent
TSH395.9<20.023Excellent
TSH494.5<20.13Excellent
Date of sample taken : 23/7/2024
TSH181.8<20.144Excellent
TSH291.9<20.123Excellent
TSH392.5<20.0723Excellent
TSH491.8<20.0923Excellent
Date of sample taken : 7/8/2024
TSH184<20.0424Excellent
TSH281.7<20.0514Excellent
TSH3102.9<20.023Excellent
TSH499.8<20.0243Excellent
Date of sample taken : 23/8/2024
TSH194.3<20.0613Excellent
TSH295.5<20.0373Excellent
TSH395.2<20.0433Excellent
TSH493.9<20.0683Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/9/2024
TSH195.4<20.0923Excellent
TSH294.3<20.23Excellent
TSH394<20.033Excellent
TSH492.2<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 26/9/2024
TSH188.6<20.0114Excellent
TSH273.8<20.0674Excellent
TSH392.4<20.033Excellent
TSH492.1<20.0193Excellent
Date of sample taken : 7/10/2024
TSH188.8<20.154Excellent
TSH2107.6<20.0743Excellent
TSH397.3<20.0113Excellent
TSH497.5<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 16/10/2024
TSH191.6<20.0313Excellent
TSH295.5<20.0223Excellent
TSH397.5<20.063Excellent
TSH498.1<20.073Excellent
Date of sample taken : 12/11/2024
TSH180.2<20.0724Excellent
TSH279.8<20.0644Excellent
TSH395.9<20.0623Excellent
TSH495.4<20.0313Excellent
Date of sample taken : 4/12/2024
TSH1109.4<20.0413Excellent
TSH2108.3<20.0223Excellent
TSH394.1<2<0.013Excellent
TSH492<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 9/1/2025
TSH192.8<20.033Excellent
TSH2102.1<21.65Good
TSH396.5<2<0.013Excellent
TSH494.3<20.0133Excellent
Date of sample taken : 27/2/2025
TSH196.7<20.133Excellent
TSH290.5<20.153Excellent
TSH391.4<20.023Excellent
TSH487.9<20.044Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/3/2025
TSH199.1<20.223Excellent
TSH280.9<20.34Excellent
TSH398.8<20.013Excellent
TSH493.5<20.023Excellent
Date of sample taken : 19/3/2025
TSH186.8<20.154Excellent
TSH284.5<20.164Excellent
TSH395.9<20.023Excellent
TSH492.4<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 16/4/2025
TSH186.6<20.194Excellent
TSH288<20.24Excellent
TSH3103.2<2<0.013Excellent
TSH493.1<20.123Excellent
Date of sample taken : 24/4/2025
TSH1100.4<20.113Excellent
TSH292.7<20.273Excellent
TSH371185.0912Bad (2)
TSH466.3265.8913Bad (2)
Date of sample taken : 13/5/2025 (2)
TSH183.3<20.154Excellent
TSH283.7<20.14Excellent
TSH364.9<20.986Good
TSH470.231.27Good
Date of sample taken : 23/5/2025 (2)
TSH1102.8<20.043Excellent
TSH2105.1<20.073Excellent
TSH392.7<20.193Excellent
TSH469.2<20.66Good
Date of sample taken : 9/6/2025
TSH1125<20.035Good
TSH2117<20.074Excellent
TSH383<20.274Excellent
TSH485<20.284Excellent
Date of sample taken : 25/6/2025
TSH183<20.064Excellent
TSH288<20.094Excellent
TSH394<20.073Excellent
TSH488<20.124Excellent
Date of sample taken : 8/7/2025
TSH1105<20.023Excellent
TSH2117<20.064Excellent
TSH3105<20.013Excellent
TSH4108<20.043Excellent
Date of sample taken : 18/7/2025
TSH182.620.034Excellent
TSH2117.9<20.024Excellent
TSH391.1<20.033Excellent
TSH490.2<20.044Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/8/2025
TSH189.6<20.024Excellent
TSH296.3<20.043Excellent
TSH389.5<20.024Excellent
TSH489.7<20.024Excellent
Date of sample taken : 21/8/2025
TSH191<20.063Excellent
TSH291.2<20.063Excellent
TSH392.6<20.033Excellent
TSH492.1<20.053Excellent
Date of sample taken : 2/9/2025
TSH192.5<20.033Excellent
TSH297.7<20.013Excellent
TSH391.1<20.033Excellent
TSH490.3<20.024Excellent
Date of sample taken : 16/9/2025
TSH182.6<20.024Excellent
TSH279.1<20.064Excellent
TSH390.5<20.013Excellent
TSH490.6<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 6/10/2025
TSH186.2<20.084Excellent
TSH282.7<20.074Excellent
TSH391.9<20.013Excellent
TSH492<20.063Excellent
Date of sample taken : 30/10/2025
TSH194.9<20.163Excellent
TSH295.2<20.073Excellent
TSH393.8<20.013Excellent
TSH494.1<20.033Excellent
Date of sample taken : 18/11/2025
TSH195.1<20.143Excellent
TSH289.6<20.14Excellent
TSH394.1<20.013Excellent
TSH492.5<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 16/12/2025
TSH196.6<20.113Excellent
TSH285.8<20.114Excellent
TSH391.8<20.023Excellent
TSH491.8<20.023Excellent
Date of sample taken : 29/1/2026
TSH198.9<20.13Excellent
TSH2101.1<20.083Excellent
TSH3103.1<20.013Excellent
TSH4104.7<20.073Excellent
Date of sample taken : 25/2/2026
TSH194.8<20.0433Excellent
TSH2100.5<20.0223Excellent
TSH398.3<20.013Excellent
TSH498.9<20.0143Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/3/2026
TSH191.2<20.143Excellent
TSH2108.8<20.163Excellent
TSH396.1<20.0123Excellent
TSH493.6<20.0343Excellent
Date of sample taken : 24/3/2026
TSH1103.8<20.043Excellent
TSH2108.8<20.0533Excellent
TSH3106.3<20.0123Excellent
TSH4101.4<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 13/4/2026
TSH198.3<20.013Excellent
TSH295.4<20.013Excellent
TSH399.6<20.013Excellent
TSH491.9<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 21/4/2026
TSH1102.2<20.0233Excellent
TSH2104.1<20.0193Excellent
TSH3103.4<20.0123Excellent
TSH492<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/5/2026
TSH193.9<20.0143Excellent
TSH290.6<20.0353Excellent
TSH397.4<20.0153Excellent
TSH496.5<20.0353Excellent
Date of sample taken : 27/5/2026
TSH11053.20.0354Excellent
TSH2104.63.20.0454Excellent
TSH3101.5<20.013Excellent
TSH498.3<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 12/6/2026
TSH198.9<20.0263Excellent
TSH298.8<20.0183Excellent
TSH3103.9<20.0133Excellent
TSH4100.4<20.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 25/6/2026
TSH190.6<20.0123Excellent
TSH291.3<20.0313Excellent
TSH395.0<20.0603Excellent
TSH493.5<20.0363Excellent
Date of sample taken : 11/7/2026
TSH197.7<20.0513Excellent
TSH2102.2<20.0653Excellent
TSH399.5<20.0513Excellent
TSH498.8<20.0463Excellent
Date of sample taken : 23/7/2026
TSH195.2<20.0333Excellent
TSH293.2<2<0.013Excellent
TSH398.0<20.0233Excellent
TSH497.5<20.0493Excellent
Date of sample taken : 10/8/2026
TSH1100.2<2<0.013Excellent
TSH2104.6<2<0.013Excellent
TSH398.4<2<0.013Excellent
TSH498.2<20.0233Excellent
Date of sample taken : 17/8/2026
TSH1102.6<20.0443Excellent
TSH2105.4<20.0233Excellent
TSH3102.4<20.0153Excellent
TSH4100.7<20.0143Excellent
Date of sample taken : 3/9/2026
TSH198.8<20.0483Excellent
TSH2103.2<20.0883Excellent
TSH398.4<20.0163Excellent
TSH499.3<20.0493Excellent
Date of sample taken : 15/9/2026
TSH199.0<20.0373Excellent
TSH2105.0<20.0233Excellent
TSH399.4<20.0143Excellent
TSH499.7<20.0133Excellent
Date of sample taken : 16/10/2026
TSH198.7<20.0553Excellent
TSH2109.3<20.0403Excellent
TSH397.5<20.0573Excellent
TSH496.5<2<0.013Excellent
Date of sample taken : 21/10/2026
TSH1103.6<20.0113Excellent
TSH2108.6<20.0263Excellent
TSH398.9<20.0173Excellent
TSH498.1<2<0.013Excellent

 

Remarks :

  1. The contract for the WENT Landfill does not specify requirements for water quality monitoring at Tai Shui Hang. If unusual changes in water quality are detected, the EPD will take follow-up actions.
  2. On 24 April 2025, the ammonia-nitrogen levels at the upstream monitoring points of Tai Shui Hang (TSH3 and TSH4) ranged from 5.09 to 5.89 mg/L, receiving the lowest WQI scoring (i.e., 5 points). The BOD5 levels were 18 and 26 mg/L, receiving the lowest WQI scoring (i.e., 5 points). However, subsequent monitoring showed that the water quality at both monitoring locations had returned to "Excellent" to "Good" levels. For further details, please refer to the discussion paper for the meeting of the Food, Environment and Hygiene Committee, Tuen Mun District Council held on 19 June 2025.

Please click here for monitoring results of year 2018 to 2023. 

 

EPD staff collect water samples from Tai Shui Hang (TSH3)

EPD staff obtains water sample from Tai Shui Hang (TSH3)

 

Upstream of Tai Shui Hang (TSH4)

Upstream of Tai Shui Hang
 
 

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