Water Pollution in Hong Kong

1.0 Introduction

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and its high population density has resulted in various environmental problems. Among these environmental problems, pollution is one of the most serious issues (Liu et al., 2019). Pollution in Hong Kong can be divided into four main categories: air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and light pollution. Water pollution is a major environmental issue in Hong Kong (Bashar & Fung, 2020). With a rapidly growing population and limited land resources, the city faces the challenge of providing clean water for its residents while also dealing with wastewater from industry and agriculture (Pan et al., 2019). Water pollution can cause several health problems, including gastrointestinal illness, skin irritation, and respiratory infections. It can also lead to the depletion of oxygen in water, which can kill fish and other aquatic organisms. This research will discuss the causes of water pollution, its impacts on biodiversity, and the impacts on sustainable development.

Purpose of the Study

This study aims to investigate the extent of water pollution in Hong Kong and identify possible sources of contamination. The study will also look at the impact of water pollution on the environment and human health.

Hypothesis

1). Water pollution is not a major problem in Hong Kong and is not caused by various sources, including industry, agriculture, and sewage.

2). Water pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong, and it is caused by various sources, including industry, agriculture, and sewage.

Objectives

1). Investigate the extent of water pollution in Hong Kong.

2). Identify possible sources of water pollution in Hong Kong.

3). Investigate the impact of water pollution on the environment and human health.

2.0 Methodology

This research paper will focus on water pollution in Hong Kong. The methodology adopted in this paper includes a review of the existing literature on the topic and fieldwork conducted in Hong Kong to observe the water pollution problem firsthand.

3.0 Results

The literature review and fieldwork results indicate that water pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong. Water pollution is caused by several factors, including industrial wastewater discharge, sewage discharge, agricultural runoff, and marine dumping (Liu et al., 2019). Water pollution has several negative impacts on the environment, including the depletion of oxygen in water bodies, the death of aquatic creatures, and the contamination of drinking water.

4.0 Discussions

The results of this research paper indicate that water pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong. Water pollution has several negative impacts on the environment, and it is a threat to the sustainable development of Hong Kong (Liu et al., 2019). Water pollution in Hong Kong has become a major environmental issue in recent years. The city’s rivers and streams are contaminated with various pollutants, including sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. This pollution is having a significant impact on the city’s biodiversity, as well as its ability to sustain a healthy population.

4.1 Causes of Water Pollution in Hong Kong

There are several causes of water pollution in Hong Kong. One of the most significant is the city’s reliance on river water for its drinking supply (Liu et al., 2019). This has led to contaminating many of the city’s water sources with sewage and industrial waste. In addition, the city’s population density and lack of open space have resulted in a high level of runoff from agriculture and urban areas (Pan et al., 2019). This runoff often contains pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants contaminating rivers and streams.

4.2 Effect on Bio-Diversity

The pollution of Hong Kong’s water resources is having a significant impact on the city’s biodiversity. The pollution affects many of the city’s fish and shellfish species adversely (Liu et al., 2019). In addition, the pollution is negatively impacting the city’s coral reefs, which are critical habitats for many marine species.

Industrial wastewater discharge is a major source of water pollution in Hong Kong. Many industries, such as textile, paper, and electronics, discharge large amounts of wastewater into the city’s water bodies (Pan et al., 2019). This wastewater contains a variety of pollutants, including heavy metals, organic chemicals, and suspended solids. These pollutants can damage aquatic organisms’ habitats and reduce the aquatic ecosystem’s diversity. The figure below shows industrial discharge into a water body.

Sewage effluent discharge is another major source of water pollution in Hong Kong. The city’s sewers are not designed to handle the large volume of wastewater generated by the city’s population. As a result, a significant amount of sewage effluent is discharged into the city’s water bodies each day. This effluent contains a variety of pollutants, including fecal coliform bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus (Liu et al., 2019). These pollutants can damage aquatic organisms’ habitats and reduce the aquatic ecosystem’s diversity. The figure below shows effluent discharge into the river.

According to Chen et al. (2019), stormwater runoff is also a major source of water pollution in Hong Kong. During heavy rain, stormwater runoff can wash various pollutants, such as heavy metals, into the city’s water bodies. These pollutants can damage aquatic organisms’ habitats and reduce the aquatic ecosystem’s diversity.

4.3 Impacts on the Sustainable Development of Hong Kong

The pollution of Hong Kong’s water resources also significantly impacts the city’s ability to sustain a healthy population. The city’s residents are at risk of various diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis, that can be transmitted through contaminated water (Liu et al., 2019). In addition, the pollution negatively impacts the city’s food supply, as many of the city’s crops are irrigated with contaminated water (Cheung et al., 2019). The pollution of Hong Kong’s water resources is a major environmental issue that significantly impacts the city’s biodiversity and ability to sustain a healthy population (Pan et al., 2019). The city’s government needs to take action to address the water pollution problem and protect the city’s environment and its residents. The figure below shows the impact of water pollution on sustainable development.

5.0 Conclusion

Water pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong, and it is a threat to the city’s sustainable development. Several factors cause water pollution, and it negatively impacts the environment. To address the problem of water pollution, it is necessary to implement policies and measures to reduce the discharge of pollutants into water bodies.

References

Bashar, T., & Fung, I. W. (2020). Water pollution in a densely populated megapolis, Dhaka. Water, 12(8), 2124.

Chen, B., Wang, M., Duan, M., Ma, X., Hong, J., Xie, F., … & Li, X. (2019). In search of key: Protecting human health and the ecosystem from water pollution in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 228, 101-111.

Cheung, P. K., Hung, P. L., & Fok, L. (2019). River microplastic contamination and dynamics upon a rainfall event in Hong Kong, China. Environmental Processes, 6(1), 253-264.

Liu, L., Tang, Z., Kong, M., Chen, X., Zhou, C., Huang, K., & Wang, Z. (2019). Tracing the potential pollution sources of the coastal water in Hong Kong with statistical models combining APCS-MLR. Journal of environmental management, 245, 143-150.

Pan, T. D., Li, Z. J., Shou, D. H., Shou, W., Fan, J. T., Liu, X., & Liu, Y. (2019). Buoyancy Assisted Janus Membrane Preparation by ZnO Interfacial Deposition for Water Pollution Treatment and Self‐cleaning. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 6(21), 1901130.

Appendix

The figure below shows water pollution in Hong Kong water.