Editorial | New water deal is a step in the right direction
- Hong Kong’s guaranteed supply of water from Guangdong province has resulted in excess and waste. The latest supply agreement will hopefully begin to change that
Hongkongers have long taken fresh water for granted, agreements with Guangdong province ensuring a guaranteed supply even during droughts. That has meant excess and waste, with each person using 130 litres a day, about 20 per cent above the global average.
The latest deal will hopefully start to change that mindset, with payment being only for the amount pumped to the city from the Dongjiang, or East River. But while that is likely to mean the government’s bill will be less, it is only when generous subsidies are reviewed and people and companies pay a more realistic price and have better understanding that the issue will truly be taken seriously.
There is no suggestion that authorities intend to alter the present payment system for consumers, which enables some of the cheapest fresh urban water in the world.
Under previous supply deals, Hong Kong bought a predetermined amount that was paid for regardless of how much was actually used. Overestimation meant oversupply and the economic downturn brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant sharp drop in visitor numbers has highlighted the need for a new water management approach that has to give greater consideration to conservation and the environment.
A drought in 1963 that limited water to residents to only four hours a day prompted authorities to search for a more reliable supply. The Dongjiang has been providing water since 1965 and it accounts for between 70 and 80 per cent of the city’s needs.
That is on top of an innovative seawater flushing system for toilets and surveys that show about 60 per cent of citizens prefer to drink bottled water. The perception of plenty is at odds with global concerns about climate change, growing pollution and rising demand and potential competition for resources in the Greater Bay Area.
