Water .pdf – Water Pollution Control Ordinance, Cap.
358 Water Pollution Control Ord.
“wastewater means water that is directly / indirectly used in / generated by human activity & then discarded but does not include unpolluted water.” WPCO was enacted in 1980 To control the Pollution of the waters of Hong Kong Water Pollution Control (WPCO) Provide the main statutory framework for the declaration of water control zones (“WCZ”) Total : 10 WCZ and 4 supplementary WCZ Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) – declared Water Control Zones 10 Water Control Zones (WCZ) 1.
North Western Supplementary WCZ Water Control Zone (WCZ) Within each water control zone, ALL discharges or deposits are controlled Exception : Discharge of domestic sewage into communal sewers and unpolluted water into stormwater drains, river courses and water bodies Definitions “Domestic Sewage” means waste of a kind and quantity that is generated by the domestic use of a toilet, water closet, bath, shower, sink, basin other sanitary fitment by a person residing in a household / while at a place of work But does not include (a) solid residue, (b) effluent from wastewater treatment facility; or (c) food business waste.
“Communal Sewer” – a sewer that is not used exclusively by one discharger… “Foul Sewer” – a sewer built for the carriage of foul / waste water or so designated by the Authority “Communal Drain” – means a drain that is not used exclusively by one discharger “Storm Water Drain” – a man made conduit built for natural surface drainage or so designated by the Authority Typical sanitary installation and drainage for small building BUILDING (STANDARDS OF SANITARY FITMENTS, PLUMBING, DRAINAGE WORKS AND LATRINES) REGULATIONS – R.2 Interpretation "foul water" (髒水) means any water contaminated by soil, waste or trade effluent; "surface water" (地面水) means rain water from any part of a building including any paved area or ground, whether paved or not, appurtenant to any building; "waste" (廢水) means used water from a waste fitment or similar fitment; "waste fitment" (廢水設備) means a bath, lavatory basin or sink, other than a slop sink; “soil" (便溺污水) means the discharge from a soil fitment; “soil fitment" (便溺污水設備) means a watercloset fitment, trough watercloset, urinal, slop sink, bidet or any similar fitment; "private sewer" (私家污水渠) means a sewer which is not a public sewer; "public sewer" (公共污水渠) means a sewer vested in and maintained by the Government; "rain water pipe" (雨水管) means a pipe used or constructed to be used for carrying off surface water directly from roof surfaces, verandahs and balconies; "soil pipe" (便溺污水管) means a pipe used or constructed to be used for carrying off soil; "waste pipe" (廢水管) means a pipe used or constructed to be used for carrying off waste; Combined System Combined Drainage System 14 Derek Osbourn, Mitchell’s Introduction to Building (Mitchells Building Series) Underwater Drainage-Combined System All the drains discharge into a common or combined sewer.
WPCO Licence No Licence A discharger may be prosecuted under s.8 or s.9, where appropriate, if its discharge has exceeded any of the TM standards set for 4 discharge systems in each WCZ 4 systems – foul sewers, storm water drains, inland waters & coastal waters Enforcement of WPCO, Cap 358 s.8 – discharge polluted water into inland water, i.e. river, or waters of H.K., i.e. sea s.9 – discharge polluted water into communal sewers & communal drains r.17B (Regs) – discharge not in accordance with the licence limits Is the discharge causing pollution?
(quality/quantity) TM WPCO s.8 s.8(1)(a) : offence to discharge any waste or polluting matter into waters of HK s.8(1)(b) : offence to discharge any matter into inland waters which tends to impede the proper flow of the water in a manner leading or likely to lead to a substantial aggravation of pollution WPCO s.8 “Waters of Hong Kong” means all inland waters, territorial waters and tidal waters of H.K.
Consent given in relation to harbour works … A discharge of unpolluted water (a) ( (b) (c) ( (d) ( 1985 ) ( 466 ) (e) 42 2 67 ( 22 1995 ) 18 ─ (i) (ii) ( (f) 9(3) ( 1985 ) 63 (iii) ( ( 21 1985 127 63 ) 7 8 1998 29 21 ) ( 1990 72 67 Exception/Defence ) 4 ) 34 ) WPCO s.9 Offence to discharge any matter into a communal sewer / drain in a WCZ other thans.9(1)(a) & (1)(b) a discharge of domestic sewage into a communal sewer / drain ….for the carriage of foul water, s.9(1)(b) a discharge of unpolluted water into a communal sewer / drain for the carriage of surface drainage water.
Discharge (2) s.2(3), discharging / making a discharge of matters into waters of HK / inland water / communal sewer / drain in the WCZ include causing / permitting matter to be deposited in any place (whether in that zone or elsewhere) in circumstances where the matter, or any component of it, is likely to enter the waters of HK/ inland waters /communal sewer or drain within a reasonably foreseeable time by falling, descending, percolating or being carried by wind or water.
89 Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) Regulations Under R.40 of Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) Regulations, the Building Authority is empowered to request the drainage / private sewer owners to connect to the appropriate public sewers :(1) Drains and private sewers, provided for the carriage of foul water, shall, where there is a public sewer provided for the carriage of foul water at a suitable level and position within 30 m of the boundary of the lot on which the building, for which such drains or private sewers are provided, is erected, be connected to such public sewer.