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Beach
Water Quality Report 2002
Chapter One
Introduction
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| 1.1 |
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| Swimming
at beaches is a popular
pastime for Hong Kong citizens |
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In hot summer, particularly on days
with sunny weather and clear blue
sky, tens of thousands of people visit
our beautiful beaches in different
parts of Hong Kong (Appendix 1). To
ensure that the beach visitors can
fully enjoy and safely swim at the
beaches, the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) has implemented a
comprehensive beach monitoring programme
since its establishment in 1986.
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| 1.2 |
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The
water quality of beaches is monitored
by the EPD |
An important milestone in 2002 is the
full commissioning of Stage I of the
Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS).
It was brought into full operation in
December 2001. Since then, 1.3 million
m3 of sewage generated in
Kowloon and the northeastern part of
Hong Kong Island, representing 70% of
the total sewage in the Victoria Harbour
catchment area, is conveyed to the Stonecutters
Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW)
via a system of deep tunnels. At SCISTW,
sewage is treated using a chemically
enhanced sedimentation process where
a high percentage of organic pollutants
are removed. However, the treatment
process does not have significant effect
in bacteria reduction. The treated effluent
is discharged into the western approaches
of the harbour. The full commissioning
of Stage I of HATS has significant impact
on the water quality of Victoria Harbour
as well as the bathing beaches in the
Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts. In
general, there is significant improvement
in water quality at Big Wave Bay, Rocky
Bay and Shek O beaches, but there is
deterioration at all the beaches in
Tsuen Wan. As far as general water quality
is concerned, there is improvement in
terms of Dissolved Oxygen, Total Inorganic
Nitrogen and Ammonia in most parts of
the Victoria Harbour. Improvement is
particularly noticeable in the eastern
part. |
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| 70%
of the sewage generated around
the Victoria Harbour has been
collected for centralized treatment
at stonecutters Island Sewage
Treatment Works |
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