Three additional “Mobile Powerful Pumping Robots” have joined the fleet of the Drainage Services Department (DSD) at a total cost of HK$3 million to enhance Hong Kong’s flood preparedness ahead of the rainy season.
The new units will be deployed this week, expanding the city’s fleet to six such robots, supported by another three remote control drainage robots for rapid response.
During last week’s black rainstorm, these high-capacity robots were dispatched 10 times to flood-affected areas, including Queen Mary Hospital, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and Admiralty, effectively alleviating water accumulation within one to two hours.
Given their proven effectiveness in handling severe flooding, the department has decided to procure more of “Mobile Powerful Pumping Robots” to address future extreme weather challenges and will consider further acquisitions based on the needs.
The DSD has trained 30 personnel to operate the pumping robots and plans to expand training for additional staff.
Manufactured by a Fujian-based company, these robots are equipped with an integrated diesel engine, self-priming water pump, control system, hydraulic system, and lighting system, all mounted on rubber crawlers for smooth mobility on roads and stairs without causing damage.
During floods, they connect to drainage pipes and enter waterlogged areas to discharge floodwater into the drainage system.
With a pumping capacity of 800 cubic meters per hour — equivalent to about one-third of an Olympic-sized swimming pool — they can operate continuously for eight hours.
According to DSD Senior Engineer Leo Chan Cheuk-chung, the robots have a maximum wading depth of 0.6 meters. If sensors detect deeper water, they can either relocate to shallower areas or deploy amphibious models.
Chan emphasized that the robots will be stationed at operational bases across different districts and activated upon receiving flooding reports.
“Rainfall is inherently unpredictable, making it difficult to anticipate exactly where flooding will occur,” he explained. “When flooding complaints are received, we aim to respond as quickly as possible.”
So far this rainy season, the existing six drainage robots have logged approximately 500 combined operational hours, with a maximum pumping capacity ranging from 500 to 800 cubic meters per hour.
