The Housing Authority has trialled a new irrigation system for housing estate gardens.
The Zero Irrigation System helps save fresh water and reduces storm water runoff.
Retention boxes underneath the gardens collect excess rainwater.
When the garden soil above dries, capillary action draws up water from the retention boxes to irrigate the plants in a self-sustaining cycle.
A 50 sq m planter was constructed in Lung Yat Estate, Tuen Mun, in 2013.
Throughout its two-year trial period no manual watering was needed and the plants remained in good condition.
The test saved about 55 cubic meters of water per year.
The authority said the system will now be used more widely.
It received the Merit Award (Research) under the Landscape Design Awards 2014 granted by the Institute of Landscape Architects and the Merit Award (Research & Planning Category) under the Green Building Award 2014 by the Green Building Council.
