Smart devices slash water waste

With the launch of the Water Smart Taskforce Programme, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) is on track this year to save a large amount of precious water with the use of smart meter readers and data analytics.

The department knows that water is an integral part of our daily lives given that each Hong Kong resident currently consumes an average of about 130 litres of water per day.

Smart water meter readers are installed on existing meters, transmitting data for AI-driven analysis.

Detecting waste

In order to strengthen the promotion of water conservation, the WSD has commissioned the Centre for Water Technology & Policy at the University of Hong Kong to carry out the programme, from February this year until early next year.

The department is inviting about 1,000 domestic and non-domestic customers of high water consumption in phases to join the programme that enables a taskforce to conduct detailed “water-usage check-ups” for such customers, helping them to understand their water consumption habits.

According to department’s big data analytics, about 1% of domestic customers account for over 15% of the city’s total domestic water consumption.

WSD Senior Engineer (Water Conservation) Peter Fung explained how the programme detects such water wastage.  

Water Supplies Department Senior Engineer (Water Conservation) Peter Fung says the department aims to reduce water usage by 500,000 cubic metres this year.

“To analyse the causes for high consumption, the taskforce uses a smart water meter reader with high precision and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies to analyse customers’ water usage data. For example, the taskforce can identify whether domestic water usage is mainly for cooking, laundry or showering, and compare these findings with the averages of other households.”

He highlighted that the programme will help customers understand their water usage habits or even identify potential leaks, enabling them to take early and appropriate actions to reduce their water bills. The programme aims to reduce water usage by 500,000 cubic metres this year, which is equivalent to 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Precision diagnostics

Customers participating in the programme will engage in an eight-week water conservation campaign. The taskforce will install smart water meter readers on the existing meters, without requiring any pipe modifications or affecting the water supply. The data will then be transmitted to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for AI-driven analysis, detecting abnormalities and potential leaks.

HKU’s Centre for Water Technology & Policy Executive Director Fredrick Lee shared more information on how the programme works.

University of Hong Kong Centre for Water Technology & Policy Executive Director Fredrick Lee highlights that over 80% of the first batch of domestic participants were able to reduce their water consumption.

“In the third week of the water conservation campaign, we will make use of AI technologies to analyse the water usage data that we have collected by the smart water meter readers, and should we determine any abnormalities in the water usage pattern, we will make use of an algorithm developed in-house to look into the root causes and problems. We will give midterm reports with personalised water-saving advice to the programme participants and they can then change their water usage behaviour accordingly.”

By the end of the eight-week programme, final reports will be provided to the participants, from that they can understand clearly how their water conservation efforts are taking effect.

Mr Lee emphasised that among the first batch of the programme participants in the domestic sector, more than 80% of them were able to reduce their water consumption.

Corporate participation

A company with three hotels, which consistently experiences high water consumption, has been invited to participate in the programme. The head of the company’s sustainability department believes the programme can help them to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their hotels’ water consumption patterns and distribution.

Property & Hotel Group Sustainability Department General Manager Amie Lai lauds the programme for helping hotels to better understand their water consumption patterns and distribution.

Property & Hotel Group Sustainability Department General Manager Amie Lai described their experience as a win-win once they put the programme to the test.

“The smart water meter readers continuously monitor the water consumption in the hotels, providing granular data for analysis and visualisation on the cloud platform. The system facilitates improvements and allows our colleagues to implement specific and effective actions promptly.”

She added that the programme empowers their hotels to uncover water-saving opportunities, slash utility costs and enhance sustainable water management, thereby advancing their sustainability goals.

CHP reminds public to take precautions against cold weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 3) reminded the public, particularly the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, pregnant women, infants and children, to adopt appropriate measures to protect their health in view of the cold weather.

Photo source: reference image

Elderly and people with chronic illnesses

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A spokesman for the CHP said that in general, elderly people have less insulating fat, and their body temperature control mechanisms would be weaker. Their body may not respond appropriately to the cold weather. In addition, some senior persons may have decreased mobility, which can impair their ability to generate and conserve body heat.

Chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes or hypothyroidism, would lower their metabolic rate, subsequently causing their body to generate less heat. Besides, persons with chronic illnesses, such as chronic respiratory illnesses or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, are vulnerable to disease aggravation due to cold weather.

The spokesman reminded the public, in particular the elderly and persons with chronic illnesses, to adopt the following preventive measures:

• Take note of the weather forecast. Wear warm clothing, including hats, scarves, gloves and socks, accordingly;

• Consume sufficient food to ensure adequate calorie intake;

• Perform regular exercise to facilitate blood circulation and heat production;

• Stay in a warm environment. Avoid going out in the morning and at night when the temperature is lower, and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure;

• Use heaters with care and maintain adequate indoor ventilation;

• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol cannot keep you warm. Alcohol accelerates the loss of body heat through dilated blood vessels, resulting in chilling instead; and

• Seek medical advice if feeling unwell.

Infants, children and pregnant women

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Infants and young children are more susceptible to heat loss during the cold weather. The spokesman reminded parents that they should ensure babies are sufficiently warm, but it is also important to keep babies relatively lightly clothed to avoid overheating them. When children engage in outdoor activities, their clothing should be adjusted accordingly, and changed quickly if soaked. Infants, young children and pregnant women should also try to avoid going out in the morning and at night when the temperature is lower.

Parents should observe the following safety measures when putting their children to bed:

• Keep the room well ventilated and at a comfortable temperature;

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep. Leave their heads, faces and arms uncovered during sleep;

• Babies do not need pillows. Place babies on a firm and well-fitted mattress to sleep. Avoid soft objects, pillows and loose bedding;

• Let babies sleep in a cot placed near their parents' bed; and

• Maintain a smoke-free environment.

Outdoor workers

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Outdoor workers should take heed of the weather report and wear appropriate warm clothing for work. Clothing should be changed as soon as possible if soaked. When the Cold Weather Warning is in force, they should take appropriate precautions. They should take a break immediately and seek help and medical attention if feeling unwell.

General public

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In addition, many respiratory pathogens, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, may have increasing activity and community transmission during winter. Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccinations early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website.

A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may become more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important for elderly persons, especially those residing in residential care homes, to receive both a seasonal influenza vaccination and a COVID-19 vaccination. They should also receive an additional booster against COVID-19 according to recommendations as soon as possible. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against respiratory illnesses and note the following:

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;

• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;

• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;

• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;

• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;

• Maintain good indoor ventilation;

• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and

• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

Food-borne diseases, particularly those linked to hotpot cuisine, are also common in cold weather. The following preventive measures should be taken:

• Wash hands before handling and consuming food;

• Do not patronise unlicensed vendors or those with poor hygienic standards while selecting food;

• Wash and cook all food thoroughly;

• Vegetables should be washed thoroughly in clean running water before cooking and consumption. When appropriate, scrub vegetables with hard surfaces with a clean brush to remove dirt and substances, including pesticide residues and contaminants, from surfaces and crevices;

• Shrimps should be fully cooked until the shells turn red and the flesh turns white and opaque;

• For shellfish such as scallops and geoduck, scrub the shells thoroughly and remove internal organs;

• Do not eat any undercooked freshwater aquatic products. To ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked, the centre of the food should reach a temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius so as to destroy pathogens;

• Most hotpot ingredients should be stored in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C or below, while frozen food should be stored in a freezer at -18 degrees C or below;

• Never use raw eggs as a dipping sauce for hotpot; and

• Use different sets of chopsticks to handle raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination.

In addition, when using fuel-burning appliances, especially in indoor areas, the public should ensure adequate ventilation to avoid harmful exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and prevent CO poisoning.

Fo more health information, the public may call the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111) or visit the CHP's website and Facebook Fanpage as well as press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against cold weather for outdoor workers and their employers when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.

The public may also call Dial-a-Weather (1878 200) or visit the website of the Hong Kong Observatory for the latest weather information and forecasts, or its page on Weather Information for Senior Citizens.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Photo source: reference image