LCQ6: Interdepartmental task force on water mains replacement works
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Question:
To reduce the potential impact of water mains replacement works on traffic and the public, and to expedite the replacement of aged water mains, in 2024, the Water Supplies Department set up an interdepartmental task force (the task force) under the chairmanship of the Director of Water Supplies and comprising representatives from various relevant departments such as the Development Bureau, the Transport Department and the Highways Department. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of meetings held by the task force since its establishment and its effectiveness in enhancing the replacement of aged water mains; whether the task force has any mechanism in place to intervene and reassess the urgency of replacing water mains on road sections where persistent leakage has been detected through long-term monitoring by the Water Intelligent Network; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the respective numbers of cases currently identified, being processed or pending processing by the task force, and among them, the number of "main burst hotspots" (i.e. road sections of 400 metres in length where more than one burst of water mains with a diameter of 150 millimetres or above has occurred within two years), with a breakdown by District Council; and
(3) with a view to expediting the water mains replacement works, whether the Director of Water Supplies has been vested with a higher level of co-ordinating power than that of general departments to co-ordinate with other departments at the same level; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Since 2015, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has implemented multi-pronged measures to maintain the health of the water supply network and reduce the risk of bursts or leaks of water mains. These measures include the implementation of the risk-based asset management programme for water mains (Programme), through which the water main improvement works are orderly deployed.
As at the end of 2025, a total of approximately 584 kilometres long water mains have been included in the Programme, with approximately 250km replaced or rehabilitated. The remaining water mains works under the Programme, with a total length of about 334km, will be launched in phases, taking into account factors such as the annual estimates of works expenditure, risk assessments and synergy with other projects. In fact, the WSD's estimated expenditure for the rehabilitation and replacement of water mains for this financial year has increased by more than 50 per cent compared with last year.
Apart from replacement and rehabilitation of water mains, by the end of March 2025, the WSD has established about 2 400 District Metering Areas in the fresh water distribution networks over the territory under the Water Intelligent Network (WIN) to continuously monitor the condition of the network, with an aim to allow speedy identification and repair of water mains in leakage.
Through the above-mentioned multi-pronged measures and with efforts over the years, the leakage rate of fresh water mains has also dropped from over 25 per cent in 2000 to around 12.8 per cent in 2025.
Regarding the questions raised by the Hon Kwok, my reply is as follows:
(1) To speed up the replacement of aged water mains, the WSD has set up an Inter-departmental Task Force (Task Force) under the chairmanship of the Director of Water Supplies, with the representatives from the Development Bureau, the Transport Department, the Highways Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Home Affairs Department, in December 2024 to discuss and formulate the works schedules and temporary traffic arrangement schemes for the replacement of water mains, striving to accelerate the works while minimising the impact of the works on the public. The Task Force has convened seven meetings, which have effectively helped shorten the time required for water mains replacement. For example, the Task Force has discussed four projects located on Garden Road, Wylie Road, Waterloo Road and Ma Tau Chung Road. Although these road sections are busy, after detailed analysis, extensive exchanges of views and trial runs, the Task Force members agreed to close part of the lanes full day to speed up the replacement, and to enlarge the works area without affecting traffic. Currently, the four above-mentioned projects have commenced and are expected to be completed in this year to next year, with the overall construction time estimated to be reduced by an average of about 30 per cent through the co-ordination of the Task Force.
The Task Force was established primarily to discuss and formulate temporary traffic arrangement schemes related to the replacement of water mains. Assessment of the priority of high-risk water mains for improvement works falls under the purview of the WSD rather than the Task Force. In assessing priority, the WSD has a mechanism in place to consider the risk levels based on past records of bursts or leaks together with other factors (such as the years of service, materials, surrounding environment and consequences of water main bursts or leaks) to assess whether a water main should be included in the Programme and to determine the construction priority for the water mains which are already included in the Programme.
The WSD is currently carrying out about 50km long water main improvement works, of which approximately 30km are expected to be completed within this year. The remaining approximately 20km long water main improvement works will be completed in phases by 2028 or earlier. In addition, from May to the end of 2026, the WSD plans to commence another approximately 40km long water main improvement works.
Regarding the WIN, the WSD is currently expanding and upgrading the WIN to achieve more comprehensive coverage of the fresh water supply network, as well as upgrading the real-time data transmission function of the existing WIN by installing real-time sensors to enhance the management of leakage in water supply networks. The relevant works are expected to be completed in phases by mid-2027. Besides, we plan to seek funding approval from the Legislative Council in this financial year for the development of the Smart Water Pressure Management System by the WSD, in which smart dynamic pressure reduction measures on water mains can be implemented without affecting the water use of the public, thereby reducing the cases of bursts and leaks of water mains.
(2) The above-mentioned Task Force responsible for co-ordinating the temporary traffic arrangements has handled the construction deployment of 19 water main improvement projects since its establishment. Amongst them, eight projects have commenced and the works are anticipated to be completed in stages from the end of this year to 2028. For another eight projects, after discussion by the Task Force, the project teams are currently undertaking design modifications. The remaining three projects are in the preparatory stage by the WSD. The details of the 19 projects, are set out in Annex.
(3) The purpose of establishing the Task Force is to create a platform in facilitating collaboration between the WSD and other departments in their respective domains of expertise, and developing temporary traffic arrangements and construction schedules with a view to expediting works and minimising the impact to the public. Through this platform, the WSD not only solicits views from various departments on works proposals more effectively, but also helps secure consensus among different parties, striving to discuss issues in advance during the project planning stage. All departments engage in discussions with a shared commitment to getting the job done properly. The achievement described in the reply of Part (1) reflects the current effectiveness of the Task Force.
Ends/Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:40
Issued at HKT 18:40
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