The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (April 25) awarded a contract for the construction of disinfection facilities at Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW).

     It is the first construction contract under Stage 2A of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS). The works will commence on April 29 this year for completion in October next year. The cost involved is HK$108 million. 

     The construction of disinfection facilities at SCISTW will significantly improve the water quality off the Tsuen Wan beaches by disinfecting the SCISTW effluent, reducing the E. coli level in the treated discharge.

     In parallel, the DSD is constructing new sewers in the Sham Tseng area to improve the local sewerage networks and to intercept flows from unsewered areas which are also polluting the Tsuen Wan beaches.  The completion of the disinfection facilities at SCISTW and the local sewerage improvement works will allow the re-opening of the affected Tsuen Wan beaches at the earliest opportunity.

     The HATS is a major sewerage infrastructure project in Hong Kong.  The commissioning of HATS Stage 1 in late 2001, which treats about 75% of the sewage discharged into Victoria Harbour, has brought significant improvement in water quality, particularly to the eastern and central parts of the harbour.

     Upon the commissioning of HATS Stage 2A, targeted for 2014, the remaining 25% of sewage discharging into the harbour, generated from the northern and western sides of Hong Kong Island, will be collected for chemical treatment and disinfection. This will further improve the water quality in Victoria Harbour. 

     Detailed planning and design of other components of HATS Stage 2A are progressing satisfactorily and the main construction works of the project are targeted to begin in 2009.

     Details of the HATS are available from the website, www.cleanharbour.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, April 25, 2008

Issued at HKT 12:17