Local ocean conservation organisation, the Ocean Recovery Alliance, has launched a petition to urge the Hong Kong government to go through with their original plans of updating sewage systems to comply with international standards. The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme had originally been drafted to introduce sewage upgrade plans, but now the government is now deciding whether or not to press ahead.
Some officals have apparently suggested that there is no need, as they deem the water quality in the harbour is “good enough”. They also added that the cost of the project would be too high, at HKD30 billion rather than the original 2004 estimate of HKD11 billion. The Ocean Recovery Alliance says this new budget is “likely overestimated”.
According to the Ocean Recovery Alliance, a measly 16 percent of Hong Kong’s sewage receives secondary treatment, which removes the “nutrients” from our waste that lead to high bacterial counts and algal red tides, as these microorganisms just love feeding on our unfiltered sewage. Yummy!
A study found the level of bacteria in all 10 locations tested was unsuitable for swimming, including the cross-harbour swim route, although we’re not sure why anyone would want to attempt that these days. Some locations had bacterial levels recorded at a disgusting 92 times the level the Environmental Protection Department deems suitable.
The original Harbour Area Treatment Scheme included implementing tertiary treatment to the sewage system, which would prevent algal red tides.
Screenshot: Change.org
