Contract awarded for Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A (with photo)
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     The Drainage Services Department today (August 12) awarded a contract worth $236.5 million for constructing a sewage conveyance system from Ap Lei Chau to Aberdeen.

     This is the third sewage conveyance system contract under the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A. The first two sewage conveyance system contracts with a total value of about $6.3 billion  were awarded in July.

     The commissioning of HATS Stage 1 in late 2001 provided treatment to about 75% of sewage discharged into Victoria Harbour, and has  significantly improved  the water quality in the eastern and central part of the harbour.  

     HATS Stage 2A will collect the remaining 25% of sewage generated from northern and southwestern Hong Kong Island. The sewage will be conveyed via deep sewerage tunnels to Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for treatment. The water quality of the harbour will be further improved after the commissioning of HATS Stage 2A.

     The sewage conveyance system contract comprises the construction of two deep sewers from Ap Lei Chau to Aberdeen each about 1.3 kilometres long and with a diameter of about 0.6 metres.  The sewers will be constructed using a horizontal directional drilling method mainly in rock at a depth of up to about 80m below sea level.  Horizontal directional drilling uses drilling equipment with remote directional steering control on the alignment of the sewer.

     The contract will begin on August 17 for completion in 2012. The whole project of HATS Stage 2A is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01

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