WSD awards major works contract for expansion of Tai Po Water Treatment Works (with photo)
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     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (February 6) awarded a contract worth $3.252 billion for the expansion of Tai Po Water Treatment Works and ancillary raw water and fresh water transfer facilities. The contract is the largest ever awarded by the WSD.

     The project aims to expand the treatment capacity of Tai Po Water Treatment Works from 400,000 cubic metres/day to 800,000 cubic metres/day. Scheduled for completion in mid-2017, the contract comprises mainly the uprating of existing facilities and construction of additional water treatment components at the Tai Po Water Treatment Works compound.

     Speaking at the contract-signing ceremony today, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Ma Lee-tak, said, "Upon completion of the project, Tai Po Water Treatment Works, with its increased output, will be able to take up part of the existing Sha Tin Water Treatment Works' load in supplying fresh water to a significant part of Kowloon and the Central and Western districts on Hong Kong Island, thereby enhancing the overall resilience, flexibility and reliability of the water supply system in Hong Kong."

     To cope with the expansion project, another contract is scheduled for commencement later this year to enlarge the storage capacity of the existing Butterfly Valley Fresh Water Primary Service Reservoir in Kwai Tsing from 40,000 cubic metres to 120,000 cubic metres. Under the contract, about 900 metres of associated fresh water mains will be laid in Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City.

Ends/Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:55

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