page_title: Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong
section_title: Water rationing
hierarchical_section_title: Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong / History / Water rationing
caption_attribution_description: English: Residents in Hong Kong queuing for fresh water during water rationing imposed by WSD between 1963-64.中文（香港）‎: 香港1963年實施制水期間，居民排隊等候取水。
context_page_description: Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong is characterized by water import, reservoirs and treatment infrastructure. Though multiple measures were made throughout its history, providing an adequate water supply for Hong Kong has met with numerous challenges because the region has few natural lakes and rivers, inadequate groundwater sources, a high population density, and extreme seasonable variations in rainfall. Thus nearly 80 percent of water demand is met by importing water from mainland China, based on a longstanding contract. In addition, freshwater demand is curtailed by the use of seawater for toilet flushing, using a separate distribution system. Hong Kong also utilize the usage of reservoirs and water treatment plants to maintain its source of clean water through times.
context_section_description: Until 1964 water rationing - the act of limiting water usage for each households by water providers - was a constant reality for Hong Kong residents, occurring more than 300 days per year. The worst crisis occurred in 1963–64 when water was delivered only every 4 days for 4 hours each time. The territory, which was under British colonial administration, then embarked on a three-pronged approach to supply water to an increasing population. (Hong Kong's population increased from 1.7 million in 1945 to about 6 million in 1992.) The strategy involved seawater flushing, the construction of larger freshwater reservoirs in bays that used to be covered by the sea, and water imports from mainland China.
caption: Residents waiting for fresh water during drought period
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