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The Drainage Services Department (DSD)'s Stormwater Interception and Storage Schemes for Hong Kong Urban Areas won the 12th Tien-Yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize in the Municipal Engineering Category.
Established by the China Civil Engineering Society and the Beijing Tien-Yow Jeme Foundation for Development of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering, the Prize commends civil engineering projects with outstanding achievements in technological innovation and application.
Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony held in Beijing today (December 4), the Deputy Director of Drainage Services, Mr Mak Ka-wai, said that it was encouraging for the department's flood prevention projects to again be recognised by professional bodies in the Tien-Yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize competition, following the winning of the International Water Association Global Project Innovation Award in September this year.
The DSD formulated an urban flood protection strategy with the novel concepts of stormwater interception and storage. For stormwater interception, the department constructed drainage tunnels in Hong Kong West, Lai Chi Kwok and Tsuen Wan to intercept stormwater from uphill. The stormwater bypasses downstream urban areas and is discharged into the sea directly, significantly alleviating the flooding risk in the relevant areas.
Under the stormwater storage schemes, the department constructed underground stormwater storage tanks in Tai Hang Tung and Sheung Wan to store stormwater temporarily during heavy rainstorm for discharge after the peak flow, thereby resolving the flooding problems in low-lying urban areas. The Happy Valley underground stormwater storage tank is now under construction and, upon its completion in phases from 2015 to 2018, will further provide effective long-term flood protection for urban areas.
The list of projects awarded under the 12th Tien-Yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Chinese only) is available at the website of the China Civil Engineering Society (www.cces.net.cn/guild/sites/tmxh/detail.asp?i=ztydjgg&id=39585).
Ends/Thursday, December 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:20
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