Project overview

The Tseung Kwan O (TKO) Desalination Plant is the first-of-its-kind facility in Hong Kong using reverse osmosis technology to provide the city with an alternative strategic water resource. Commissioned in 2023, the first stage of the TKO Desalination Plant has a water production output of 135 million cubic metres per day, with provision for future expansion of the desalination plant to an ultimate water production output at 270 cubic metres per day.

Key project stats

Use of renewable energy equivalent to 16.2% power consumption in building services

Edmund Hambly Medal Highly Commended Award, ICE Awards 2023 for the creative design making a contribution to sustainability

67% reduction in annual water consumption for irrigation by adopting native species and water

Our role

Binnies were originally engaged in a feasibility study in 2012 and later provided investigation, design and construction supervision for the first stage of the TKO Desalination Plant. In the ten years following this, the Binnies project team from various disciplines, including civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical and electrical engineering; instrumentation control and process; environmental, architectural and landscape design; public engagement, cost estimation, permitting and regulatory compliance; and green building certification, consistently delivered high quality performance to the construction of the plant. The TKO Desalination plant and is now supplying drinking water to 137,000 homes across Hong Kong, supporting the city’s continuous development with a reliable climate-proof and sustainable water supply.

Stage one of the project began in December 2019, at the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to unexpected constraints on the project such as manpower shortage and quarantine restrictions. The team had to rapidly adapt to the changing circumstances adopting innovative measures to overcome the constraints.

Value over 40% of the contract sum of the project’s structures were adopted by the off-site construction methods such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing methods (MiMEP).

Tseung Kwan O Desal aerial view
Tseung Kwan O Actidaff
Tseung Kwan O pumping station storage rack
Tseung Kwan O pumping station storage tank

Related projects

Llyn Fuches Las Reservoir Safety Improvements

Llyn Fuches Las Reservoir Safety Improvements

Everton Water Recycling Centre integrated constructed treatment wetland

Everton Water Recycling Centre integrated constructed treatment wetland

Chemical management upgrades to Lancashire wastewater treatment works

Chemical management upgrades to Lancashire wastewater treatment works

Additional district cooling system at the Kai Tak Development, Hong Kong

Additional district cooling system at the Kai Tak Development, Hong Kong

Reliability maturity assessment  

Reliability maturity assessment