The Review 2009

34 The Review 2009 • Research Academics in the Faculty of Engineering have been trying to find better ways to treat and manage water pollution. Their efforts recently paid off with the launch of a project that will provide a comprehensive picture of water quality in Hong Kong, as well as honours for leaders in the field. The Waterman Project aims to improve water quality management in Hong Kong and could potentially have applications in China. It is being funded with $29.76 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, has the support of several Government departments and involves collaboration between the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Computer Science. The project will develop a water quality modelling system and visualisation technology to provide three services: a daily beach water quality forecast; information on fisheries management, such as the likelihood of red tides and algal blooms; and a 3-D visualisation tool that can be used to help decision makers and the public better understand Hong Kong’s water quality problems and the impacts of proposed projects. Leading the project is Professor Joseph Lee, Redmond Chair in Civil Engineering, who in 2009 was also the first Asian-based academic to receive the Hunter Rouse Hydraulic Engineering Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers for his innovations in environmental hydraulics. “Our overall goal is to help the public to better understand the quality of our waters so they can engage in meaningful discussions about how to sustainably manage different events, whether they are natural, such as rainstorms, or man-made, such as reclamations and sewage treatment facilities,” Professor Lee said. Meanwhile, Professor Herbert Fang, who is Chair Professor of Environmental Engineering, received China’s 2008 State Scientific and Technological Progress Award for his contributions in cleaning up effluents from petrochemical industries, refineries and oil fields. Professor Fang has been investigating wastewater treatment since the 1970s and is a pioneer in the development of anaerobic technology, which consumes much less energy than the more conventional aerobic treatment and produces only 10 per cent of the sludge. Currently he is investigating how to harness the hydrogen produced from anaerobic bacteria for use as an energy source. Cleaning Hong Kong's Waters “Our overall goal is to help the public to better understand the quality of our waters” Professor Herbert Fang in the laboratory 35 The Review 2009 • Research The Waterman Project aims to provide daily beach water quality forecasts