Hong Kong's Hidden Gems #5 -- Water Supply Department H2OPE Centre

Ever wonder how fresh water is processed and delivered effortlessly into your home?  Well for starters, it is not effortless! And, it is definitely not easy.  Hong Kong's Water Supply Department (WSD) H2OPE Centre tells it all.  It is yet another hidden gem that brings a great wealth of knowledge and interactive fun to your family.  If you are visiting the city with  young ones, and have a half-day of free time, this is the place to be.  

The centre covers all key topics one has to know about water.  From collection, treatment, distribution, to conservation, you can readily choose content to skim through or deep dive into.  Many displays combine visual/audio elements, along with interactive games that captivate your attention, and provide an amusing experience for children.  Depending on your interest level, you can spend easily between 1 to 3 hours in the cosy facility.  My favourite fun-fact takeaway was that Zebrafish is used as a real-time biosensing alert on water quality given the fish's close genetic makeup to that of humans.


There is also a short 15-minute animation played on a dome shaped screen that covers the water journey, from wilderness to chemical processing, that will impress your children.  The look-up screen provides an immersive experience although the cartoon can use some quality touch-up in my opinion. Let's just say it is not exactly Pixar calibre.  Nonetheless demand for limited seating is high, despite the language being in Cantonese only with no subtitle. 

In a world where ESG is already a household topic, the centre does its job in teaching us to conserve one of the most precious natural resources on the planet.  After all, only 2% of the water on Earth is fresh water.  And over half of the global population does not have access to fresh water like we do in Hong Kong.  Using faucets and machinery that is water-efficient is a good start.  Honing your showering habits, defrosting techniques, among other daily routines, can also make a difference.  

The H2OPE Centre was a pleasant surprise for me.  It ensures an educational but entertaining outing for a family day.  This hidden gem is literally quite well hidden as it is tugged into Tin Shui Wai, the outskirts of New Territories.  Public transportation can be an issue if traveling from the city, although the place is very accessible by taxis, Uber and some buses.  There is no onsite parking but plenty of spaces in its vicinity.  Be sure to book early on their website to secure a visiting slot.  If you start late, you must still leave within the two-hour alloted window.  Walk-ins are not allowed at the time of writing.  

Enjoy!


- PTS

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