Before 1960, Yim Tin Tsai had only one active spring for the entire village, providing enough water for drinking and washing, and meeting the water needs of more than 200 villagers in its heyday. The spring even got the villagers through the drought in early 1960s in Hong Kong. To save water for a rainy day, the villagers worked together to build a small reservoir on the island of Kau Sai Chau during the drought and pipe water into the village. Thereafter, the spring became a reserve. The Water Supplies Department began to supply water to the village in the 1990s, but by then the villagers had gradually moved out of Yim Tin Tsai. Now, thanks to this 300-year-old live spring, water is still coming up throughout the year, making this the last spring in Hong Kong with fresh water supply.