The Tseung Kwan O desalination plant in Hong Kong

Project summary

Binnies provided several services for the construction of the Tseung Kwan O desalination plant in Hong Kong.

The background

The Tseung Kwan O desalination plant in Hong Kong is a key supply management initiative under the Total Water Management (TWM) strategy devised in 2008 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The strategy was updated in 2019 to cater for the forecasted water demand up to 2040. The updated strategy has put emphasis on containing fresh water demand growth and building resilience in fresh water supply while taking into consideration the extreme effects of climate change by diversifying water resources. The desalination plant will help to diversify the water supply and serve as a new water source to better prepare Hong Kong for uncertainties such as acute climate change and low rainfall.

RSK Group company Binnies was originally engaged in a feasibility study in December 2012, later providing investigation, design and construction supervision services for the Tseung Kwan O desalination plant. In the ten years following this, the Binnies project team consistently delivered high-quality services to facilitate the construction of the plant.

The project comprised two key elements:

1. Site levelling of the reserved site of about eight hectares in Tseung Kwan O Area 137 to provide sufficient space for a desalination plant with an ultimate water production output of 270,000 m³ per day.
2. Design and construction of a desalination plant using reverse osmosis technology with a water production output of 135,000 m³ per day with provision for future expansion of the plant to an ultimate water production output of 270,000 m³ per day.

The challenges

Stage one of the project began in December 2019, on the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to unexpected constraints on the project, such as manpower shortage and quarantine restrictions. The team had to rapidly adapt to the changing circumstances, adopting innovative measures to overcome the challenges.

The solutions

To recoup delays due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and inclement weather, over 40% of the contract sum of the project’s structures was delivered by off-site construction methods, which were modular integrated construction (MiC), design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) and multi-trade integrated mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MiMEP).

The impact

The Tseung Kwan O desalination plant provides a water source that is not affected by climate change, diversifies the water resource and ensures the security and improves the resilience of Hong Kong’s water supply.