From the very beginning of the colony, the supply of fresh water always was a challenge. The increasing population needed more and more fresh water to be supplied continuously throughout the whole year. This was achieved by the construction of dams and conduits (e.g. Pokfulam and Tai Tam in the 19th century), but it always was a chase between increasing population and increasing storage capacities. The whole system depended on sufficient rainfall. In some years, this did not work because rainfall quantities were too low.
The government therefore decided in several years to impose water restrictions. Before the reservoir levels would have fallen too low, water rationing was enacted.
This timeline lists some of the most severe droughts that necessitated water rationing.
Further reading:
Hot & thirsty: the struggle to supply Hong Kong with drinking water
Events on this timeline:
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 1929 | 1929 Draught and water rationing In the second half of 1928, there was only 58 mm of rainfall and from January to mid-July in 1929, only another 40 mm of rainfall was recorded (between October 1924 and March… read more |