Hong Kong is known for its iconic skyline with over 7,500 high-rise buildings, the most in the world. This city is home to a significant number of skyscrapers due to the limited flat land available and the high demand for real estate.

What’s interesting is the fact that these buildings have a huge environmental impact, and Hong Kong has taken a number of steps to reduce this. The city is a global leader in the use of seawater for flushing toilets, a practice that significantly reduces freshwater usage.

Approximately 80% of the population in Hong Kong uses seawater for flushing, supplied through a separate distribution system from the drinking water. This innovative system saves about 200,000 tons of fresh water per day, or around 20% of the total fresh water supply.

This not only conserves the fresh water resources but also reduces the energy required to process the fresh water. This unique approach to water conservation demonstrates how Hong Kong is using scientific principles to address environmental challenges in a densely populated urban area.