Environmental Monitoring and Investigations

EPD has introduced environmental monitoring schemes and specific investigations in order to establish an objective basis for local action.

Water quality monitoring includes 82 routinely-sampled stations for inland waters and 160 for marine waters and bottom sediments. The water quality of 41 gazetted beaches is monitored weekly during the bathing season.

Beach water tests and gradings are important services to members of the public.

This vessel, the Dr Catherine Lam, is used to collect samples and monitor sea water quality.

An Air Pollution Index (API) and forecast were introduced in June 1995 to provide members of the public the current air quality information. With a new air monitoring station added in 1999 at Tung Chung, the monitoring network consists of 11 general and three roadside air monitoring stations.

Roadside stations, such as this one in Causeway Bay, often score high on the index because they are close to traffic.

Most air quality monitoring stations, such as this one in Tsuen Wan, are found at four- to six-storey high levels, away from any direct source of pollution.

Surveys of waste generation have been initiated throughout Hong Kong since 1981 to provide the information needed for the planning of future waste disposal facilities.

Collection of evidence is a key part of EPD's enforcement against illegal waste shipments.

At the project level most major projects are subject to environmental monitoring and audit to ensure that recommendations in the Environmental Impact Assessment are strictly implemented and appropriate mitigatory actions are promptly taken as required.