Integrated Water Transfer from the Mainland to Macao to relieve salinity

Macao's Salinity Response Task Force arrived in Zhuhai today (October 18) to attend the meeting on Pearl River water transfer and to get more information on the preparatory work by related departments during the salt tide in the coming winter and spring. The task force group was in Zhuhai at the invitation of the Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Pearl River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. At the meeting, representatives from the Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources and Zhuhai Water Bureau introduced the proposals on 2007-2008 Pearl River water transfer in dry season and the preparatory work for ensuring the water supply to Macao. Vice President of Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Wang Qiusheng, said the drought level was severe this year and several reservoirs upstream had reserved water. He predicted the salinity problem would be more serious this coming winter and spring than that of last year. Due to the increased demand for water from the booming tourist industry and with the third water supply main under construction, the Macao SAR Government wrote to the central government to request for water transfer in main reservoirs. The central government, the State Council and State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters were very concerned about it and therefore allowed integrated water transfer to ensure the quality of the drinking water of Macao residents during the dry season. The Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources will conduct integrated water transfer from the main reservoirs on October 10, 2007 and on February 28, 2008. It also planned for six times of centralised water compensation between November 18 and February 14 in order to ensure safe and normal water supply to Macao during the salt tide. Head of the task force, Ms Wong Soi Man, thanked the Central Government and related departments for their efforts in helping Macao with the salinity problem. She said the Macao SAR Government would continue to further promote the importance of conserving water to the public. In the meantime, besides preparing for the measures to deal with the problem in the coming dry season, the task force group is also drafting an emergency preparedness and response plan to deal with emergency situations such as a water supply disruption.