Black & Veatch to study Hong Kong’s entire sewer and drainage networks
Smarter use of data, prioritised upgrades and a 20-year asset management plan are cornerstones of a major study undertaken by the Drainage Services Department (DSD) of the Hong Kong SAR and Black & Veatch.
The study addresses the need to enhance rehabilitation programs for Hong Kong’s existing drainage and sewerage infrastructure. This is a common, pressing issue facing water and electric utilities throughout the world and is highlighted in recent reports by Black & Veatch.
Black & Veatch will identify cost-effective and advanced methods to restore and maintain Hong Kong’s almost 4000 km of underground sewers and drains. Taking a holistic, long-term approach, Black & Veatch will develop a plan to prioritise rehabilitation and replacement works as well as optimise inspection surveys.
Applying more effective IT is also a key consideration. The study will look at options to enhance data articulation in relation to operation and maintenance of the network.
“The more information at your fingertips, the more you can optimise the performance of your assets. This can help implement the right programs and technologies,” said Kelvin Lau, Associate Vice President, Black & Veatch’s global water business. “Data intelligence is the building block of smarter, modern cities. DSD will soon have a more comprehensive and structured long-term strategy to rehabilitate its networks.”
Black & Veatch’s Hong Kong office was named the company’s Centre of Excellence for Buried Water Infrastructure in 2010. An underground stormwater storage scheme at Happy Valley, implemented by DSD and Black & Veatch, won an International Water Association’s Project Innovation Award in July 2012. The company has also worked extensively with the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong SAR in replacing and rehabilitating more than 1000 km of ageing water mains.
The ‘Enhanced Management of Underground Sewer and Drain Networks - Feasibility Study’ is expected to take 30 months to complete.
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