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HA strives to explore new initiatives to enhance sustainability of public housing developments (with photos)
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) always strives to explore new initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its public housing developments and one such initiative is a pioneering new system of irrigation with no potable water for planting areas in its new public housing projects where appropriate.
 
     "This new method, namely the Zero Irrigation System (ZIS), can on one hand help save fresh water and reduce storm water runoff on the other," the Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction), Ms Ada Fung, said today (January 31).
 
     The ZIS comprises special retention boxes put underneath the planting area during the construction of a new planter. When rain falls, rainwater is first absorbed into the soil; any excess is collected in the special retention boxes under the ground. When the soil above dries, capillary action draws up water from the retention boxes to irrigate the plants in a self-sustaining cycle.
 
     "As far as rainwater collection is concerned, the ZIS harvests rainwater at lower capital and management costs than conventional systems, and is able to collect and re-use storm water and thus reduce the amount of storm water entering the drainage system," Ms Fung said.
 
     A 50-square-metre ZIS planter was constructed at Lung Yat Estate, Tuen Mun, in 2013 as a trial. Throughout the two-year trial period, no manual watering was needed for irrigation and the plants remained in good condition. In addition, no waterlogging or unpleasant odour was observed.
 
     "Compared with the conventional irrigation system, the ZIS trial resulted in a saving of 54.75 cubic meters per year in water consumption for that planter," Ms Fung said, adding that no manual watering using potable water has been required for that planter even after the trial up till now.
 
     "The result of the ZIS trial is encouraging. And it has proved effective both in saving water and reducing the manpower resources needed for maintenance. The ZIS will be used more widely in suitable new planters depending on the circumstances of individual new public housing projects," Ms Fung said.
 
     The design of the ZIS received the Merit Award (Research) under the Landscape Design Awards 2014 granted by the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects and the Merit Award (Research and Planning Category) under the Green Building Award 2014 granted by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00
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The Hong Kong Housing Authority strives to explore new initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its public housing developments and one such initiative is a pioneering new system of irrigation with no potable water for planting areas in its new public housing projects where appropriate. Photo shows the planter with the Zero Irrigation System at Lung Yat Estate, Tuen Mun.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority strives to explore new initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its public housing developments and one such initiative is a pioneering new system of irrigation with no potable water for planting areas in its new public housing projects where appropriate. Photo shows the water retention boxes placed under the ground to collect excessive rainwater for irrigation through capillary action.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority strives to explore new initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its public housing developments and one such initiative is a pioneering new system of irrigation with no potable water for planting areas in its new public housing projects where appropriate. Photo shows the Zero Irrigation System using water retention boxes to maximise water retention capability.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority strives to explore new initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its public housing developments and one such initiative is a pioneering new system of irrigation with no potable water for planting areas in its new public housing projects where appropriate. Illustration shows the operation of the Zero Irrigation System.