Remember that rooftop park? That is the Kwun Tong Intermediate Sewage Pumping Station we are about to visit. This isn’t your typical sewage station. It is a vital part of Hong Kong’s infrastructure. It ensures the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater from the surrounding areas.
The Kwun Tong Intermediate Sewage Pumping Station is more than just pipes and pumps. Its enhancement project cost about $1,054.4 million. The Drainage Services Department implemented enhancement works for the Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station. It sits adjacent to Kwun Tong Bypass and Wai Yip Street.
Why all the upgrades? East Kowloon’s development meant more sewage. An estimated increase of 100,000 cubic meters was expected. The Kwun Tong Preliminary Treatment Works was upgraded to handle it. The existing Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 1 tunnel couldn’t keep up. An underground balancing facility was constructed. It holds 16,000 cubic meters of excess sewage temporarily. This improves the sewage system’s resilience in Kwun Tong.
What about that park? The roof of the Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station was developed into a green area. It’s open to the public as a recreational space.
The project used NEC. It is an innovative approach to upgrading the sewage pumping station. The roof deck was landscaped into a new seaside park. The Drainage Services Department let a HK$493 million contract to China Geo-Engineering Corporation in December 2017.
The works included a new 16,000 cubic meter balancing tank. It is next to Victoria Harbour. The tank retains excess sewage from the upgraded Kwun Tong treatment works. A new plant house encloses the tank and pumping station. It features a three-tier odor management system. It uses chemical dosing, bio-trickling filters, and activated-carbon filters.
The pumping station upgrade increases sewerage capacity. It optimizes the existing sewage tunnel system. It avoids impact to the harbor due to sewage overflows. It reduces odor and visual impacts.
The 15-meter-high plant house roof was landscaped. It created a 1-hectare public park. It includes a pavilion, landscaped areas, lawns, children’s play facilities and fitness equipment. The landscaped deck forms the new Cha Kwo Ling Promenade. It maximizes public enjoyment of the harbor front.
The promenade opened in August 2023. It was on time and within budget. DSD was the NEC project manager. Atkins China Limited was the NEC supervisor.
Terence Tse of DSD highlighted the mutual trust among team members. He said that collaboration shaped the built environment. The team adopted design for manufacture and assembly and building information modeling. This shortened construction by over 3 months. A cost-saving design for the foundations was adopted. The first pile was installed just 3 months after work began.
Early warnings helped minimize risks. The supply of precast components from China was affected by Covid-19. Innovative solutions were implemented. Closed-circuit television was used for remote inspections. A dedicated factory inspector was appointed.
The project continued uninterrupted by Covid-19. It thrived in adversity. Public feedback was incorporated. Children were engaged in the design process. The sewage plant is now a sightseeing attraction. DSD is considering applying the concept to other projects. This Kwun Tong Intermediate Sewage Pumping Station showcases how infrastructure can be both functional and enjoyable.