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Water pollution

Water pollution. A case of Hong Kong. Water conditions in HK. Beach water quality Marine water quality River water quality. Can you think of some impacts of water pollution?. Make swimmer sick Kill marine life Give off bad smell. Impact of water pollution.

cameron-boyer
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Water pollution

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  1. Water pollution A case of Hong Kong

  2. Water conditions in HK • Beach water quality • Marine water quality • River water quality

  3. Can you think of some impacts of water pollution? • Make swimmer sick • Kill marine life • Give off bad smell

  4. Impact of water pollution • Red tides are blooms of microscopic algae which produce a characteristic pink or reddish-brown colouration in seawater. • Red tides reduce sunlight penetration, and at night or when the algae die, deplete DO in the water. • Some species may also release toxic substances. Red tides can cause massive fish kills in marine fish culture zones through removal of DO or direct poisoning.

  5. Beach water quality • All very poor beaches are found in Tsuen Wan area

  6. Annual ranking system for beaches *Geometric mean E. coli count calculated based on all the data collected during the bathing season. ** Gastrointestinal and skin complaints

  7. Beach monitoring programme • to assess compliance with the Water Quality Objective; • to detect any change in beach water quality; • to identify polluted beaches that need remedial actions; • to evaluate pollution abatement programmes; • to decide on the opening of beaches; and • to advise the public on the beach water quality status.

  8. Marine water quality • Hong Kong is divided into 10 Water Control Zones (WCZs) and each WCZ has a set of Water Quality Objectives (WQOs). • Dissolved Oxygen (depth-average)  Not less than 4mg/L in 90% of the samples • Dissolved Oxygen (bottom)  Not less than 2mg/L in 90% of the samples • Unionized Ammonia Annual mean  not exceeding 0.021mg/L • Total Inorganic Nitrogen Ranging from annual mean  not exceeding 0.1mg/L in Southern Water Control Zone to not exceeding 0.7mg/L in Deep Bay Water Control Zone • E.coliAnnual geometric mean  not exceeding 610/100mL in secondary contact recreational areas

  9. Black spots of marine pollution Water pollution in PRD estuary due to intensive industrial development Sometimes, you can "see" water pollution like the discharge of coloured bleaching and dyeing wastewater into a nullah as shown in the photo. Most typhoon shelters receive substantial pollution loadings from storm stormwater drains which receive raw sewage and industrial effluent via improper connections. Some discharges are from vessels themselves. Some vessel users also dump garbage into the water. As water movement is confined in a typhoon shelter, pollutants cannot be flushed out easily , thus exacerbating the pollution problems. This photo shows the coloured water of Rambler Channel caused in the past by the discharge of bleaching and dyeing effluent into the sea. Oyster farms at the Deep Bay are abandoned due to serious water pollution and the decline of importance in oyster farming Poultry waste from the farms nearby caused eutrophication in a stream (Tai Tong)

  10. River water quality • EPD regularly monitors water quality at more than 80 sampling stations in over 30 rivers and streams in the territory. • In situ field measurements are performed and water samples are collected for further laboratory analyses mostly on a monthly basis. • The monitoring covers more than 40 parameters including physico-chemical characteristics, organics, nutrients, toxic metals and coliform bacteria. • The rates of annual compliance with the statutory WQOs are assessed based on the data obtained during the year.

  11. Water Quality Index (WQI) for Rivers • based on the level of dissolved oxygen, 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand and ammonia-nitrogen

  12. Improvements arising from enforcing the Water Pollution Control Ordinance

  13. The Livestock Waste Control Scheme • introduced in 1987 and further revised in 1994. • designated a series of Prohibition Areas in which the keeping of livestock was completely banned after 24 June 1988. • Farmers outside the Prohibition Areas were permitted to continue rearing livestock, but they were required to properly dispose of their waste and treat their effluent • technical help: • publishing a code of practice and guidelines on waste treatment options • setting up a private farm demonstration treatment plant. • established a free livestock waste collection service • made financial help available for farmers to install their own waste treatment facilities. • provided incentives for farmers for whom the new system was too difficult: it offered eligible farmers an ex gratia allowance if they chose to close down their livestock business completely.

  14. Government policies –three-pronged approach • Controlling at source • Providing sewers • Collecting and treating sewage

  15. Controlling at source • Water Pollution Control Ordinance • Specifications of meeting standards are contained in licences • Implementation by regular inspections, response to complaints and prosecutions

  16. Proving sewers • Extend public sewer networks in NT and new development areas • It prepares sewerage masterplans and the works are carried by Drainage Services Department

  17. Collecting and treating sewage Storm Water and Sewage Collection Sewage treatment plant in Shatin Procedures of treating waste water

  18. HATS • Harbour Area Treatment Scheme • Stage 1: sewage from Kowloon and part of HK  Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SISTW) for chemical treatment (late 2001) • Stage 2: sewage from N & SW HK island  SISTW for chemical treatment (2A) and biological treatment (2B)

  19. Implementation of HATS • Whilst Government will shoulder the cost of constructing Stage 2, the full operating costs will have to be recovered through sewage charges. • The public consultation demonstrated that the majority of respondents support this application of the "polluter pays" principle. With the introduction of the sewage charge,dischargersare required to pay the cost of the sewage services according to the quality and quantity of their discharge. • Domestic HouseholdsThe only charge is the Sewage Charge (SC) at a prescribed rate of $1.20 per cubic metre of water consumed, with exemption for the first 12 cubic metres, in a four-month billing period. • Trade, Business and ManufactureThe charges include a Trade Effluent Surcharge (TES)

  20. Improvements made • No. of beaches meeting Water Quality Objective for bathing water increased from 24 in 1995 to 34 in 2005. • No. of river monitoring stations with bad or very bad water quality dropped from 52% in 1988 to less than 15% in recent years. • Toxic metal discharges reduced from 7,000 kg/day in 1993 to 2,000 kg/day in 2000 • 75% of sewage around Victoria Harbour receives chemical treatment due to HATS • Dissolved oxygen in harbour waters increased by 10% • Drop in red tides in Tolo Harbour from 43 in 1988 to less than 20 in recent years

  21. Regional issues • Regional cooperation with Guangdong Government • 15-year-plan to clean up Deep Bay • In mid-2003, a regional water quality management strategy was formulated

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