There are only 5 flooding blackspots in Hong Kong Drainage Services Department: Ting Kok Road, Tai Po expected to be removed this rainy season

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Written by: Wang Jieen

2020-03-29 19:29

The Drainage Services Department said that today (29) the flooding blackspots at the junction of Morrison Hill Road and Lideli in Wan Chai were removed. There are currently only five flooding blackspots in Hong Kong, of which drainage improvement works at Ting Kok Road, Tai Po It has been completed and is expected to be eliminated after this rainy season.

A spokesman for the Drainage Services Department said that in order to reduce the flood risk during heavy rains, the Drainage Services Department will implement "timely clearing the canals" during the rainy season this year. When heavy rains are forecast, the Department will deploy manpower to inspect about 200 vulnerable places in Hong Kong If clogged areas such as rubbish or dead leaves are found, cleanup will be arranged immediately.

The Drainage Services Department today removed flooding blackspots at the junction of Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai and Lideli. There are currently only five flooding blackspots in Hong Kong. (Photo of Drainage Services Department)

There are only 5 flooding black spots in Hong Kong

A Drainage Services Department spokesman said that in the past 26 years, the Drainage Services Department has eliminated a total of 126 flooding blackspots, including flooding blackspots at the junction of Morrison Hill Road and Lideli in Wan Chai this year.

The Department said that there are currently only 5 flooding black spots in Hong Kong, which are located in Shek Wu Wai, San Tin, Yuen Long, Lam Tsuen Valley Basin, Tai Po, and Ting Kok Road, Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Pok Fu Lam Village, Southern District. Drainage improvement works for Po Ting Kok Road have been completed and are expected to be eliminated after this rainy season.

The Drainage Services Department says that the average annual rainfall in Hong Kong is about 2,400 millimetres. (Profile picture)

Rainy season will inspect about 200 easily clogged locations

The Department also stated that the average annual rainfall in Hong Kong is about 2,400 millimeters, making it one of the cities with the highest rainfall in the Pacific Rim. The Drainage Services Department analysed about 200 flooding cases from 2017 to 19, of which more than 60% were caused by the channel inlets being blocked by garbage, dead leaves or other debris washed down by surface runoff.

The spokesman said that in order to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rains, the Drainage Services Department will implement "timely clearing canals" during the weekdays during the rainy season. When heavy rain is forecast, the Department will deploy manpower to inspect about 200 locations in Hong Kong which are easily blocked by garbage or dead leaves. If blockage is found, cleanup will be arranged immediately.

In addition, after the heavy rain and when the typhoon signal is about to be removed, personnel will also be sent to inspect and clean the inlets and river channels of the main rainwater drainage system to prepare for the next heavy rain.

Drainage Services Department recently introduced a new type of remote dredging robot. (Photo of Drainage Services Department)

Introduction of dredging robot

The Drainage Services Department also said that a new type of remote-control dredging robot has been introduced, which can penetrate the submerged box-shaped rainwater channel and transport the mud in the box-shaped rainwater channel directly to the ground through the connection pipe. The remote dredging robot can prevent workers from entering the closed and flooded box-shaped rainwater canal, and the dredging work need not be limited to the dry season.

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In terms of new construction projects, the Department also introduced assembly design, combined with building information simulation technology, to make engineering structural components easier to manufacture and assemble.

The speaker gave an example. The Cherry Street Box Rain Drain Dry Season Interceptor Project used both assembly design and traditional on-site construction methods. While the structural components were manufactured off-site, some structures were also constructed on-site. The construction period was expected to be shortened by about six month.

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The Drainage Services Department is planning to build more underground flood storage schemes. The current plan includes six locations, including Shek Kip Mei Park Playground, Tai Hang East Playground (Extension), Tsim Sha Tsui Urban Council Centennial Park, and Kwun Tong District. Xiuya Road Playground, Kwun Tong Pier Plaza and Hoi Bun Road Park. (Photo of Drainage Services Department)

Underground flood storage plan proposed for Centennial Park

The Drainage Services Department also said that the underground flood storage scheme can collect and temporarily store excess rainwater during heavy rains, reducing the load on downstream drainage pipes to alleviate flooding risks.

The Department is cooperating with other departments to find suitable public open space in various districts to build more underground flood storage plans. Currently, the plan includes 6 locations, namely Shek Kip Mei Park, Tai Hang East Playground (Extension), and Tsim Sha Tsui Urban Council. Centennial Park, as well as Sau Nga Road Playground, Kwun Tong Pier Plaza and Hoi Bun Road Park in Kwun Tong District.

Drainage Services Department