Hong Kong people use more water per capita than all other major cities in the world, according to an international study.

As revealed by the International Statistics for Water Services by the International Water Association Specialist Group on Statistics and Economics, per-capita water consumption was 219 liters per day (including 92 liters of seawater for flushing) in Hong Kong from 2005-06.

As for other cities, the per-capita daily consumption in Sydney in 2006 was 214 liters, 200 liters in Oslo, 170 liters in Helsinki and 160 liters in Singapore.

As pointed out by a consultant of the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong government, people shouldn't take the water supply for granted, and the territory should develop a water-management strategy with reference to new water resources, water conservation and protection of water resources.

Many water-supply infrastructures in Hong Kong were built more than 50 or 100 years ago, and they may need replacing, Peter Binney, director of national planning, global water business of consultant firm Black & Veatch, said yesterday.

However, water supply is subject to many factors, including climate change, flooding, rises in sea level and over-stretched water resources. To ensure a sustainable future, the analysts said Hong Kong should have a multi-faceted water-management strategy that includes repairing leaking pipes, identifying new supply sources and using less water.

Alan Man, the firm's director of client services, noted that the water supply from the mainland accounted for 80 percent of the water supply in Hong Kong. He also said local people consume more water than people in other international cities, due perhaps to lower water charges than other places. "We need serious thinking on whether the mainland water supply will be uninterrupted and whether we should consume less water," he said.

As far as he knew, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) will promote public awareness of water saving through the use of low-energy-consumption electrical appliances.

Replying to a China Daily enquiry, a WSD spokesman said the department is going to publish a booklet on water management, and the preparatory work is underway.

Green Power Chief Executive Officer Man Chi-sum said that as Hong Kong relies too much on water from Guangdong province, it should explore other sources.

"Hong Kong people are wasting water by using fresh water to wash floors and water flowers," he commented. "Instead, these may be done by using recycled water after second-class sewage treatment."

Desalination of seawater is another option, he added, saying that as technology has improved, desalination is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

(HK Edition 10/03/2008 page1)