Abstract of the proposal

Few places in the world have experienced such intense urban growth as Hong Kong has over the last half century. This has created some environmental and engineering problems but at the same time also offered unprecedented opportunities for novel research. For example, urbanization of the rugged topography in Hong Kong has created thousands of cut slopes. Groundwater samples from the weepholes or drains installed in these slopes, which are otherwise extremely difficult or expensive to collect, provide a unique and economical chance to understand the physical and chemical nature of the subsurface flow system in hillslopes.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater by analyzing water samples collected from the springs and seepages from cut or natural slopes in the Mid-Levels, an extensively urbanised area of approximately 2 km2 on the north-facing slopes of Victoria Peak. Samples from streams, seawater, rainfall, and water bearing services will be also collected and analyzed.

This project will present the first comprehensive hydrogeochemical study in Hong Kong aimed to understand the fundamental issues such as the interaction between groundwater chemistry and geology and the impact of urbanization on subsurface environment by analyzing both inorganic and organic chemicals. It will have not only scientific interest but also engineering and environmental implications. For example, in slope stability investigation, it is important to examine the local groundwater flow conditions in a certain area above the slope but it is always difficult to specify the size of the area for such an investigation. The proposed study on the elevation effect and the scale of the flow paths can be instructional to select the catchment area above a slope for stability investigation. The proposed study on the temporal change of groundwater chemistry over the last 20 years can reveal the possible anthropogenic contamination and human interference of the subsurface system in the process of urbanization.

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