In June 2000, the Government, with the support of EMSD and other bureaux/departments, launched a scheme for wider use of fresh water in cooling towers for energy efficient air conditioning systems (FWCT Scheme) for non-domestic buildings. The FWCT Scheme was launched as a pilot scheme for application in initial 6 designated areas in Hong Kong. With its widely acceptance by the trade, it has changed its pilot status to a standing one from June 2008. The scheme was reviewed in December 2016 to streamline application procedures and requirements of the FWCT Scheme. A further review was completed in October 2023 to cope with the latest technologies, updated standards and requirements for the FWCT Scheme.
This scheme applies to all non-domestic buildings and other buildings where the use of fresh water for evaporative cooling is supplied for non-domestic usage within the designated areas. They are encouraged to apply for participation in the FWCT Scheme for their fresh water cooling towers installations.
The updated location plans of the designated areas for application are listed at the following:
For premises located outside the listed designated areas, applications for joining the FWCT Scheme for their fresh water cooling tower installations are also welcomed and will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Water Supplies Department (WSD) on adequacy of fresh water supply. Addition/ extension of designated areas will be considered as appropriate with regard to the applications.
*Note: The new edition of the Fresh Water Cooling Tower Scheme (2023 Edition) brochure, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Tower (2023 Edition), and the guide book of Good Operation and Maintenance Practice of Fresh Water Cooling Towers (2023 Edition), have been published on 21 November 2023, and would be fully implemented on 21 May 2024 after a grace period of 6 months. The publications for the 2023 Edition can be viewed here.
To promote the proper use of water-cooled air conditioning systems for energy efficiency with regard to the environment and health issues, a set of Code of Practice for Water-cooled Air Conditioning System, CoP(WACS), 2006 edition, was promulgated in July 2006 to provide guidelines for the cooling tower design, installation, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance. The CoP(WACS) was then reviewed and renamed as Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, 2016 edition, CoP(FWCT). The new CoP(FWCT) comprises three parts:-
All applications for participation in the FWCT Scheme should comply with the requirements and guidance in the FWCT Scheme Brochure and CoP(FWCT): Parts 1-3.
Further, all cooling tower installations under the FWCT Scheme should also comply with the requirements stipulated in Code of Practice for Prevention of Legionnaires' Disease, 2021 edition
[PDF format (3.11MB)] published by the Prevention of Legionnaires' Disease Committee.
The owners of cooling tower installations should maintain proper conditions of the fresh water cooling towers to minimize contamination and nuisances to the public. A Guideline on Good Operation and Maintenance Practice of Fresh Water Cooling Towers (December 2016) [PDF format (2.83MB)] is compiled based on CoP(FWCT): Part 2 for easy reference.
To facilitate cooling towers' owners and property management agencies to operate and maintain fresh water cooling towers properly, EMSD has prepared a video and a sample specification in procuring operation and maintenance services for reference:-
