New Contract Award Highlights Biwater's Diverse Seawater Systems Capabilities

Specialist seawater system to serve important border crossing near Hong Kong Airport

Scheduled for completion next year, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge will be the region’s first major combined bridge and tunnel sea-crossing incorporating extensive infrastructure works and the creation of two artificial islands. By 2020, it’s expected that daily passenger flow will be in excess of 120,000.

To serve the new Hong Kong boundary crossing facility, and all of those who pass through the clearance area, Biwater have been awarded a contract to supply and install a specialist seawater system to ensure that all associated buildings are fully ventilated with water-cooled air conditioning units.

Seawater will be sourced from Urmston Road waters – an inshore passage between the mouth of the Pearl River and the northwest end of Victoria Harbour – where it will be screened and disinfected before passing through an extensive system of seawater pumpsets and accompanying pipework, which will include penstocks, travelling bandscreens, and automatic backwash strainers. In addition, Biwater will provide the low voltage power supply system and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.

“This is a significant project for us, as it builds upon our successful track record of delivering bespoke seawater systems and pumping stations for the Hong Kong Government, which complements our more widely known capabilities in desalination and membrane treatment for water supply and reuse projects around the world,” said John Jennings, Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Biwater International Limited.

Due to Hong Kong’s location in the South China Sea, there has been a increase in the use of seawater for air conditioning and flushing. To reduce corrosion of the seawater system, Biwater will coat all equipment that is in contact with seawater with corrosion-resistant material or construct it of high grade stainless steel. Ductile iron pipes with cement mortar internal linings and vertical split casting seawater pumps with duplex stainless steel impellers will be used throughout the system.

About Biwater
Biwater provides large-scale water and wastewater solutions for clients across the world. Since its inception in 1968, Biwater has gained recognition for its innovative approaches aimed at overcoming the world’s most pressing water-related challenges. Throughout its history, the company has grown to meet the demands of many water-stressed countries and their burgeoning populations. It has a successful record of accomplishment, having completed over 25,000 projects in over 90 countries – financing, consulting, process engineering, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and owning water facilities – in both rural and urban environments.

Hong Kong:
Biwater has been working in Hong Kong since the 1980’s, providing state-of-the art water and wastewater treatment works, water leisure facilities and supporting the housing maintenance sector. The local office is well established as one of the foremost water and wastewater process contractors in Hong Kong, with several ongoing projects, including Biwater’s extensive HATS 2 upgrading works (Contract DC/2009/10) at Stonecutters Island.

Membrane Treatment and Desalination Sector:
Biwater’s Membrane Treatment and Desalination Sector (Biwater Inc.) is a premier membrane system designer and supplier producing high purity drinking, process and reuse water for both municipal and industrial clients. The Group currently has more than 450 MGD of installed membrane treatment capacity globally utilizing MF, UF, MBR, NF and RO technologies. For more information, visit biwater.com.