Macau, China, Feb. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - Water consumption in Macau reached an all-time high in 2024, exceeding 100 million cubic metres, above all due to the recovery of tourism, the Macau Water Supply Company (SAAM) said on Wednesday.

"In 2024, our water supply exceeded 100 million cubic metres, a record, with a year-on-year growth of 5.6%, driven mainly by the recovery of the integrated tourism industry," said SAAM's executive director, Kuan Sio Peng, during a lunch with the media. 

Macau welcomed 34.9 million visitors last year, 23.8% more than the previous year, but still far from the record of 39.4 million set in 2019, before the pandemic.

The figure exceeded the initial forecast of the Macao Government Tourism Office (DST) of 33 million, as well as the forecast revised upwards on 4 December: 34 million.

Kuan Sio Peng said he expected the water supply consumed to increase by 3% in 2025 thanks to economic growth, "the development of zone A of the new urban landfills" and the completion of the construction of new government buildings.

Zone A of the New Urban Landfills is the largest reclaimed area of Macau's new urban landfills, with a total area of 1.38 square kilometres, located in the eastern part of the territory, where construction of public housing and social facilities is underway.

According to SAAM, more than 90% of Macau's raw water - untreated water - comes from the Modaomen watercourse of the Xijiang River in the neighbouring city of Zhuhai. Built in 1960, the Zhuxiandong reservoir in Zhuhai is the territory's largest water source, with a capacity of 2.4 million cubic metres.

Founded in 1935 during the Portuguese administration, SAAM is a private company that has a monopoly on water supply in Macau.

The territory has four water treatment plants, seven reservoirs, four raw water pumping stations and seven pumping stations.

JW/ARO // ARO.

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