WATER POSITIVITY
Water Supplies Department’ s Water Reclamation Plan,
Hong Kong
Technical approach to water reuse The Hong Kong system relies on tertiary-treated effluent processed at a government reclamation plant. This water undergoes further treatment, including reverse osmosis, before being introduced into cooling infrastructure.
This approach reflects a layered treatment model. Initial municipal processing removes solids and contaminants, while subsequent stages refine water quality to meet operational thresholds required for data centre cooling systems. These thresholds are defined by equipment tolerances and long-term maintenance considerations.
The integration of reclaimed water into cooling loops requires adjustments in system design, including materials compatibility, monitoring systems and contingency planning. Operators must ensure that fluctuations in input water quality do not affect uptime or equipment performance.
AWS’ decision to proceed with this model in Hong Kong indicates that the company views wastewater reuse as viable within tightly regulated urban systems. It also suggests that engineering constraints, while present, can be addressed through standardised treatment processes.
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