Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 3. Water Environment In 2019, the Government of the Macao SAR put into use the 3.1 Quality of Potable Water fourth water supply pipeline to ensure water supply safety; DPSIR Framework optimized wastewater treatment facilities, launched the Macao Peninsula WWTP optimization project; pushed forward the D Driving Forces P Pressures S States I Impacts R Responses pollution control and management for the water environment, completed the sewage discharges interception project along the Status coast of Areia Preta. It also published the trial standard for the surface water environment, progressively strengthened water In 2019, water supply in Macao remained unaffected by salt tides, same environment monitoring, conducted microplastics survey in the as 2018. coastal area of Macao, and completed the study on water quality Despite the chloride concentration of treated water from the Ilha Verde monitoring scheme for the maritime areas of Macao, in order to Water Treatment Plant increased in 2019 compared to 2018, the quality of strengthen the protection of the water environment. potable water in Macao was maintained at a low salinity level (green)1 (see This chapter will illustrate the status and evolution of the water Figure 3.2 and Table 3.1). environment indicators through the quality and consumption of In 2019, the qualified rate of coliform bacteria in the distribution networks potable water, the water quality of maritime areas, and wastewater of Macao was above 99%, which was similar to that of 2018 and was in treatment. compliance with the requirements of relevant law2 (see Figure 3.3 and Table 3.1). In 2019, the rainfall in Macao increased significantly compared with that of 2018 (see Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1). Indicators for environmental analysis in this chapter Quality of Potable Water 1 It is divided based on the “Salinity Scale for Potable Water”. For more information, please refer to the website of Macao Water Supply Company Limited. Potable Water Consumption 2 In accordance with Decree Law No. 46/96/M, Regulation of Water and Wastewater Drainage of Macao Water Quality of Maritime Areas (RADARM), the water is conformed to the requirement of potable water when the qualified rate of tested samples reaches 95%. Wastewater Treatment 30 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 Decadal trends In the past decade, the annual average chloride concentration of treated water from the Ilha Verde Water Treatment Plant showed an overall downward trend, indicating the continuous improvement in the overall salinity of potable water, while the qualified rate of coliform bacteria in the distribution networks was maintained at a level of above 99%. Figure 3.2 Chloride concentration of treated water from the Ilha Verde Water Treatment Plant in the past years (Data source: IAM, 2020) Notes: 1 The standard limit on chloride concentration in centralized potable water sources according to GB3838-2002 is 250mg/L. 2 The gray line is the trend line. Figure 3.1 Rainfall in Macao in the past years (Data source: SMG, 2020) Notes: 1 The gray line is the trend line. 2 The percentage in the figure is the variation between 2019 and 2018. Figure 3.3 Qualified rate of coliform bacteria in the distribution networks of Macao in the past years (Data source: IAM, 2020) 31 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 Table 3.1 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease or 3.2 Potable Water Consumption difference of rainfall, chloride concentration of treated water from the Ilha Verde Water Treatment Plant, and qualified rate of coliform DPSIR Framework bacteria in the distribution networks of Macao between 2018 and D Driving Forces P Pressures S States I Impacts R Responses 2019 Annual percentage Status 2018 2019 increase/ decrease Billed water consumption and water consumption per ten thousand MOP Rainfall (mm) 1,795.6 2,248.0 +25.2% GDP increased slightly in 2019 compared with 2018, while domestic water Chloride concentration of treated water Annual consumption per capita was similar to that of 2018. The continuous growth percentage from the Ilha Verde Water Treatment 2018 2019 increase/ of the local population and visitor arrivals were the main factors for the Plant decrease increases in the volume of water flowing through the distribution networks Annual average chloride concentration 17.7 20.0 +13.0% and billed water consumption (see Figure 3.4, Figure 3.5, and Table 3.2). (mg/L) In 2019, all types of water consumption increased in varying degrees Highest chloride concentration (mg/L) 30.7 58.7 +91.2% compared with 2018. Industrial water consumption showed a significant Qualified rate of coliform bacteria in the Annual 2018 2019 growth but it accounted only for the smallest proportion (see Figure 3.6 distribution networks1 difference and Table 3.3). • Taipa distribution network (%) 99.7 100.0 +0.3% • Macao Peninsula distribution network (%) 99.7 99.9 +0.2% In terms of water consumption in different districts, water consumption in all districts increased in 2019 compared to that of 2018. Water • Coloane distribution network (%) 100.0 100.0 － consumption in Coloane, owing to the growth of population and (Data sources: SMG, IAM, 2020) commercial activities, increased most significantly but it accounted for a Note: 1 In accordance with Decree Law No. 46/96/M, Regulation of Water and Wastewater Drainage of Macao (RADARM), the water is conformed to the requirement of potable water when the qualified relatively small proportion (see Figure 3.7 and Table 3.4). rate of coliform bacteria in tested samples reaches 95%. In 2019, the leakage rate in the distribution networks decreased compared with that of 2018 (see Figure 3.8 and Table 3.6). 32 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 Decadal trends Despite an overall upward trend in billed water consumption in Macao in the past decade, water consumption per ten thousand MOP GDP and the leakage rate in the distribution networks showed a general downward trend, indicating the improvement in water consumption efficiency. In the past decade, domestic water consumption per capita maintained at 150-160 L/capita‧day. In the past decade, all types of water consumption increased in varying degrees, with the most notable increasing trend in commercial water consumption. As for billed water consumption in different districts, the Figure 3.4 Volume of water flowing through the distribution networks, billed upward trends in water consumption of the Cotai Reclamation Zone and water consumption, and domestic water consumption in the past Coloane were obvious. years (Data sources: DSAMA, DSEC, 2020) Note: 1 The percentage in the figure is the variation between 2019 and 2018. 33 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 Figure 3.6 Volume of billed water consumption by sector in the past years Figure 3.5 Billed water consumption per capita, domestic water consumption (Data source: DSAMA, 2020) Notes: 1 The gray line is the trend line of the total billed water consumption. per capita, and water consumption per ten thousand MOP GDP 2 The percentages in the figure is the variations between 2019 and 2018. (Data sources: DSAMA, DSEC, 2020) Notes: 1 Billed water consumption per capita = annual billed water consumption ÷ (end-year population × number of days of the year). 2 Domestic water consumption per capita = annual domestic water consumption ÷ (end-year population × number of days of the year). 3 Water consumption per ten thousand MOP GDP refers to the volume of water consumed for producing ten thousand MOP GDP (at current prices), calculated based on the volume of water supply of the whole year. 4 The percentages in the figure is the variations between 2019 and 2018. Figure 3.7 Volume of billed water consumption by district in the past years (Data source: DSAMA, 2020) Notes: The gray line is the trend line of the total billed water consumption. 2 The percentages in the figure is the variations between 2019 and 2018. 34 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019 Table 3.2 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease of billed Table 3.3 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease of billed /domestic water consumption, billed water/domestic water water consumption by sector between 2018 and 20191 consumption per capita, and water consumption per ten thousand Annual MOP GDP between 2018 and 2019 3 percentage (Unit: m ) 2018 2019 increase/ Annual decrease percentage 2018 2019 increase/ Commercial 42,361,984 (46.6%) 43,030,729 (46.3%) +1.6% decrease sector Billed water consumption per capita1 373.3 374.2 +0.2% Domestic sector 38,283,332 (42.1%) 39,152,259 (42.2%) +2.3% (L/capita·day) Public sector 5,762,152 (6.3%) 5,923,962 (6.4%) +2.8% Domestic water consumption per capita2 157.2 157.8 +0.4% (L/capita·day) Industrial sector 4,536,947 (5.0%) 4,707,933 (5.1%) +3.8% Billed water consumption (’000 m3) 90,944 92,815 +2.1% (Data source: DSAMA, 2020) Note: 1 Numerical data in the brackets refers to the percentage of billed water consumption by each sector Domestic water consumption (’000 m3) 38,283 39,152 +2.3% in total billed water consumption in Macao. Water consumption per ten thousand MOP Table 3.4 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease of billed 2.26r 2.32 +2.7% GDP3 (m3/10,000 MOP) water consumption by district between 2018 and 20191 (Data sources: DSAMA, DSEC, 2020) Annual percentage Notes: 1 Billed water consumption per capita = annual billed water consumption ÷ (end-year population (Unit: m3) 2018 2019 × number of days of the year) increase/ 2 Domestic water consumption per capita = annual domestic water consumption ÷ (end-year decrease population × number of days of the year) 3 Water consumption per ten thousand MOP GDP refers to the volume of water consumed for Macao Peninsula 56,925,411 (62.6%) 57,719,776 (62.2%) +1.4% producing ten thousand MOP GDP (at current prices), calculated based on the volume of water supply of the whole year.