Livestock Waste
Livestock waste is a major source of pollution in rivers in the north New Territories. Over the past two decades measures have been taken to control the problem, including phasing out livestock farms under Voluntary Surrender Schemes. Between 2005 and the end of 2007, 73 per cent of poultry farms and 55 per cent of pig farms had closed – benefiting water quality.
The E. coli count in the rivers of Deep Bay Water Control Zone dropped by half in 2007. Most farms in Hong Kong are located there so this was a significant achievement, especially as there was less rainfall during the year to dilute the pollution. An example of the impact can be seen in the catchment of the River Ganges, where 47 000 pigs and 325 000 chickens were reared before 2005. The livestock population has since dropped by more than one-third and the gradings of river water monitoring stations downstream have moved from "Bad" to "Fair". |
|
|
Water quality trend in River Ganges. |
|
Typhoon Shelters
|
|
Causeway Bay typhoon shelter. |
|
Some of the blackest, most foul-smelling waters in Hong Kong used to be found in typhoon shelters, where pollutants from shore and marine vessels are trapped by seawalls. Over the past decade, however, the situation has improved. Water quality may not be good enough to swim in, but it is a lot less unpleasant and hazardous to residents living in and near the shelters.
The cleanest typhoon shelters tend to be located away from urban areas, but even in Victoria Harbour, there are improvements. Pollution levels have dropped markedly in Kwun Tong, Yau Ma Tei and Causeway Bay shelters, as well as in urban shelters found further afield, such as Tuen Mun and Sai Kung. The improvements demonstrate that the EPD's multi-pronged approach of controlling pollution at source, upgrading sewage treatment facilities, enhancing sewerage infrastructure and implementing the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, can bring measurable improvements to water quality. |
|
