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Drainage Services Department received six awards in the CIWEM HK 2025 Innovation and Sustainability Awards
5 February 2026
The CIWEM HK 2025 Innovation and Sustainability Awards, organised by The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Hong Kong (CIWEM HK), aim to promote and recognise exceptional contributions in driving innovation and sustainability. These awards encourage the water and environmental management sector in Hong Kong to develop and adopt innovative and sustainable solutions, while also provide a platform for professionals to share their experiences and achievements.
Mr. Robin LEE Hong-nin, the Deputy Director of Drainage Services attended the CIWEM HK Annual Dinner cum the CIWEM HK 2025 Innovation and Sustainability Awards Presentation Ceremony on 5 February 2026, along with various project teams, with multiple awards received by six DSD projects.
Shek Wu Hui Effluent Polishing Plant received the Platinum Award under the "Innovation Award – Major Project" Category
To address population growth, the Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works (SWHSTW) is being upgraded and transformed in stages into the sustainable Shek Wu Hui Effluent Polishing Plant (SWHEPP), ultimately achieving a tertiary treatment capacity of 190,000 m³/day. Under Main Works Stage 1, the treatment capacity of SWHEPP will be increased to 140,000 m3/day while introducing several innovative sludge treatment technologies. These include Thermal Hydrolysis Pretreatment (THP), which employs high-temperature and high-pressure processes to enhance biogas production, reduce the required volume of sludge digesters, and improve sludge dewaterability. Additionally, deammonification (Anammox) sidestream treatment is being adopted to significantly lower aeration energy consumption, eliminate the need for external carbon sources, and reduce the amount of sludge generated. The project also incorporates various innovative measures, such as automated construction technologies to enhance safety and efficiency; and a digital twin system to minimise overall energy use and enable predictive maintenance of equipment.
Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 2 – Upgrading of Cheung Chau Sewage Treatment and Disposal Facilities received the Platinum Award under the "Sustainability Award – Major Project" Category
Without using any additional land, the Upgrading of Cheung Chau Sewage Treatment and Disposal Facilities project has successfully doubled the treatment plant capacity from 4,000 to 9,800 m3/day and upgraded the treatment standard to secondary level. Aiming at achieving the sustainability goal, the project team retained the existing facilities as far as possible to minimise carbon footprint and adopted various advanced technologies and construction methods. These include the use of GGBS concrete (i.e. an environmental friendly construction material), reusable hybrid hydraulic tubular support system for excavation and lateral support, as well as the adoption of energy-saving facilities at the plant, such as a solar photovoltaic system.
Revitalization and Application of Renewable Energy Technologies for Village Flood Protection Schemes in Hong Kong received the Platinum Award under the "Sustainability Award – Focused Project" Category
Between 2022 and 2025, the DSD successfully revitalised several Village Flood Protection Schemes built in the 1990s in the Yuen Long District, including those at San Tin, Ha Mei San Tsuen, and Chau Tau Tsuen. Covering a total area of over 60 hectares, these schemes provide reliable flood protection for nine low-lying villages. Embracing the "Rivers in the City" concept and adhering to the core design principles of sustainable development and a people-oriented approach, the team introduced diverse ecological and greening elements, transforming traditional flood prevention facilities into green water bodies that offer both ecological value and community functions.
To fully utilise the land within the facilities and implement the "single site, multiple use" initiative, the team installed specially designed floating photovoltaic (PV) systems and other PV systems in the flood storage ponds and at the stormwater pumping stations. These systems generate over 440,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing approximately 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of about 13,000 trees). By integrating engineering excellence, innovative technology, and landscape design, the project not only enhances the environment and biodiversity, and promotes a water-friendly culture, but also connects with the community through more than 50 public education events. These activities have also promoted public awareness and understanding of decarbonisation and sustainable development. The team is now applying this successful experience to other suitable Village Flood Protection Schemes, aiming to realise the multifunctional potential and social value of drainage facilities.
Tumbler Inspection Ball (TlB) 2.0: Advanced Sewage Tunnel Inspection Method received the Gold Award under the "Innovation Award – Focused Project" Category
The original Tumbler Inspection Ball (TIB 1.0) was a groundbreaking proof-of-concept developed by DSD and the Hong Kong Centre for Logistics Robotics (HKCLR) to address the limitations of conventional sewerage tunnel inspection methods. While TIB 1.0 demonstrated the viability of a flow-agnostic inspection vehicle that operates through the flow, TIB 2.0 evolves into a robust operational platform equipped with multiple sensors, including LiDAR and sonar, and is ready for practical operation. This next-generation system builds on its predecessor's success to deliver unparalleled data completeness, operational range, and reliability. It elevates the mission from gathering footage to executing comprehensive assessments that support smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure management. This project exemplifies the department’s ongoing commitment to continuous engineering innovation, contributing to the safety, efficiency, and longevity of critical wastewater infrastructure.
Automation for Drainage Network Detailed Design received the Silver Award under the "Innovation Award – Focused Project" category
This design software is based on the Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform, allowing engineers to generate three-dimensional models of proposed drainage pipelines and manholes, as well as two-dimensional construction drawings on the BIM platform by simply inputting basic data. This design software can help engineers simplify the complex design process, save lengthy drawing time, and reduce the possibility of human errors, thereby saving costs and enhancing productivity.
Smart Pipeline Condition Assessment: AI Vision Language Model for Automated Defect Detection and Reporting received the Silver Award under the "Sustainability Award – Focused Project" Category
To enhance the efficiency and reliability of inspection for Hong Kong's underground stormwater drainage and sewerage pipelines, DSD in collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has developed the "Smart Pipeline Condition Assessment" system. This system employs an AI Vision Language Model that integrates human-machine collaborative workflows to achieve automated defect detection and report generation, replacing the time-consuming traditional manual review and coding process.
This innovative technology not only significantly improves inspection efficiency and accuracy but also enables early identification of structural defects and blockages, thereby facilitating timely rehabilitation and preventive maintenance. This reduces the risks of overflows and flooding safeguarding public health and urban safety. The system further incorporates continuous data logging and iterative training cycles enabling ongoing model optimisation, providing a sustainable and scalable intelligent solution for the long-term management of Hong Kong's underground infrastructure.
Group photo of DSD's winning teams
The project team of Shek Wu Hui Effluent Polishing Plant receiving the Platinum Award under the "Innovation Award – Major Project" category
The project team of Outlying Islands Sewerage, Stage 2 – Upgrading of Cheung Chau Sewage Treatment and Disposal Facilities receiving the Platinum Award under the "Sustainability Award – Major Project" category
The project team of Revitalization and Application of Renewable Energy Technologies for Village Flood Protection Schemes in Hong Kong receiving the Platinum Award under the "Sustainability Award – Focused Project" category
The project team of Tumbler Inspection Ball (TlB) 2.0: Advanced Sewage Tunnel Inspection Method receiving the Gold Award under the "Innovation Award – Focused Project" category
The project team of Automation for Drainage Network Detailed Design receiving the Silver Award under the "Innovation Award – Focused Project" category
The project team of Smart Pipeline Condition Assessment: AI Vision Language Model for Automated Defect Detection and Reporting receiving the Sliver Award under the "Sustainability Award – Focused Project" category