Dongjiang Water Supply Route
Dongjiang is one of the three tributaries of the Pearl River – the other two being Xijiang which rises in the Yunnan Province and Beijiang which originates in the Jiangxi Province. It starts its course from the Xunwu County in Jiangxi and flows from northeast to southwest direction into Guangdong Province.
Dongjiang Water Supply Route
The Hong Kong Government was well aware that the increasing fresh water demand in Hong Kong could no longer be satisfied by local yield solely, and the procurement of fresh water from Guangdong Province was the most efficient way for fulfilling the unmet water needs.
The Government reached an agreement with the Guangdong authorities to take 5 billion gallons of water a year (22.70 million m3) from the Shenzhen Reservoir.
A connecting pipe of 48 inches (1,200 mm) was expeditiously constructed to bring the water into Hong Kong. The supply commenced.
There was a severe drought in Hong Kong which had led to the consensus to construct the Dongshen Water Supply Scheme and the supply and distribution project began on the banks of Dongjiang.
The Director of Water Supplies, T.O. Morgan and Guangdong representative signed the second agreement on Dongshen-Hong Kong water supply.
The construction works for the Dongshen Water Supply Scheme were completed. The photo shows design professionals of the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme at work.
The Dongshen Water Supply Scheme was put into operation to supply water to Hong Kong.
The first stage of extension works. The photo shows Qiling Gate Dam.
Additional pumping stations and dam works on both sides of the border were built as part of a further extension programme. The annual volume of water pumped across the border was then increased to 620 million m3. The photo shows Shangpu Transformer Substation.
Another round of major extensions began in 1990. Pumping stations at Dongjiang, Shima, Matan, Zhutang and Shaling were upgraded. The annual volume of water supply across the entire Dongshen Water Supply System was increased to 1,743 million m3 of which 1,100 million m3 went to Hong Kong, 493 million m3 to the rapidly growing Shenzhen and 150 million m3 was used for irrigation along the banks of the river. The photo shows Matan Pumping Station.
The first Agreement for the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong (Supply Agreement) with the Government of Guangdong Province was signed in 1960 and up to 2020, twelve Supply Agreements had been signed. All Supply Agreements were based on consumption projections in Hong Kong. These projections took into account population growth, industry and commercial demands and predictions on local yields from Hong Kong's gathering grounds.
The first Supply Agreement was signed.
The Director of Water Supplies, T.O. Morgan and Guangdong representative signed the second agreement on Dongshen-Hong Kong water supply.
The third Supply Agreement was signed.
The fourth Supply Agreement was signed.
The fifth Supply Agreement was signed.
The 1998 Loan Agreement on modification works on the Dongshen Water Supply Scheme was signed. The Guangdong Province commenced the Dongshen Water Supply Improvement Works in August 2000.
The Supply Agreement was signed. The "package deal lump sum" approach has been adopted.
The Supply Agreement was signed.
The Supply Agreement was signed.
The Supply Agreement was signed at the Commemoration Ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong.
The agreement was signed.
The signing ceremony was held online. The previously adopted “package deal lump sum” approach is enhanced to “package deal deductible sum” approach.
Hong Kong and Guangdong are under the same climatic setting (rainfall pattern, temperature, etc.). When our local yield reduces during drought years, the quantity of Dongjiang water available for distribution will also dwindle. We need to agree with the Guangdong side a provision in the supply agreement for ensuring Hong Kong to attain a reliable Dongjiang water supply quantity, otherwise in the event of drought, there will not be any guarantee that our demand can be met. In order to safeguard our water security, the package deal principle is adopted in the current supply agreement which guarantees an annual ceiling of supply quantity with a view to maintaining water supply round-the-clock even under the extreme drought condition with a return period of 1 in 100 years.
| Supply Agreement | Water Quantity | Water Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Agreement in 2006 |
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The fixed annual water price was HK$2,494.8 million. |
| Supply Agreement in 2008 | The fixed annual water prices for 2009 to 2011 were HK$2,959 million, HK$3,146 million and HK$3,344 million respectively. | |
| Supply Agreement in 2011 | The fixed annual water prices for 2012 to 2014 were HK$3,538.7 million, HK$3,743.3 million and HK$3,959.34 million respectively. | |
| Supply Agreement in 2015 | The fixed annual water prices for 2015 to 2017 were HK$4,222.79 million, HK$4,491.52 million and HK$4,778.29 million respectively. | |
| Supply Agreement in 2017 | The fixed annual water prices for 2018 to 2020 were HK$4,792.59 million, HK$4,807 million and HK$4,821.41 million respectively. | |
| Supply Agreement in 2020 |
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Dongjiang water firstly reaches Muk Wu Pumping Station of Hong Kong
The Guangdong Authorities have taken effective steps to ensure that the quality of Dongjiang water being delivered to Hong Kong meets the national standard for Type II water in the "Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water" (GB3838-2002) stipulated in the Dongjiang water supply agreement, which is the highest national standard applicable for the surface water abstracted for human consumption. This has been achieved through a combination of measures and projects by the Guangdong Authorities, including:
Once the Dongjiang water reaches Hong Kong, its quality is monitored through a 24-hour on-line monitoring system at the Muk Wu Pumping Station. Samples are collected and tested through a series of chemical, physical, bacteriological, biological and radiological examinations.
Water from Dongjiang plays a significant role in Hong Kong life. It accounts for more than 70% of the yearly fresh water supply. There has been no water rationing since 1982. Hong Kong residents, unlike many of their regional neighbours, are fortunate in that they have supplies of wholesome fresh water that are reliable, accessible and efficiently distributed.
To Guangdong as a whole, Dongjiang serves four primary functions: (i) maintaining the ecology along the river; (ii) navigation; (iii) hydropower generation; and (iv) water supply. In fact, a significant portion of the food originating from the Pearl River Delta is exported to Hong Kong. Hong Kong also gains from the financial returns on its investments in the businesses and factories in the region that operates on Dongjiang water. Hence protecting the quality of water in Dongjiang is essential for the sustainable development of both Hong Kong and its neighbouring areas.
The Dongjiang water supply system between Dongjiang and Hong Kong involves the pumping of water through a 59 km long dedicated aqueduct built from the Taiyuan Pumping Station, i.e. the intake point on Dongjiang, to the Shenzhen Reservoir. The water in the Shenzhen Reservoir is fed by pipelines across the border to Hong Kong at Muk Wu, and then delivered along three aqueduct systems to territory-wide storage and treatment facilities.
The Central and Eastern Routes clearly illustrate the importance of the Plover Cove Reservoir and the High Island Reservoir as ‘holding tanks’ for Hong Kong’s fresh water storage. All the three routes are inter-connected through the Tai Po Tau Pumping Stations complex, ensuring there is maximum flexibility in the transfer in terms of reservoir storage throughout the year. This is particularly crucial during the annual shutdown period of the Dongjiang system (normally in December) for maintenance. Water stored in the Plover Cove Reservoir and the High Island Reservoir ensures the uninterrupted supply in the territory.