MAIN DAM (WEST)
西主壩
SPILLWAY
溢洪口
SUBSIDIARY DAMS
輔助霸
MAIN DAM (EAST)
東主壩
Proposed High Island reservoir
HK$1,040 million to meet the demand for water
WITHIN the space of a few days Hong Kong's Public Works Department last month announced two gigantic pro- jects to meet the colony's voracious demand for water, currently rising at a rate of 8 per cent per annum.
Last year fresh water consumption was approximately 166 million gallons a day. This year it is 180 million. In ten years time it expected to be 360 million. To tackle the problem Gov- ernment is to spend the vast sum of HK$1,040 million.
Of this total, HK$850 million will go towards the creation of a fresh- water reservoir in the only remaining area of Hong Kong where watersheds are unused. And in addition HK$190
Far East BUILDER, June 1971 Page 45
million will be spent on one one of the largest seawater desalting plants in the world.
High Island scheme
The reservoir, known as the High Island Scheme, will hold 60,000 mil lion gallons of fresh water, compared with the 50,000 million of the extend- ed Plover Cove reservoir scheme. An- nouncing the new scheme, Mr. J.J. Robson, director of Public Works, said that the decision to go ahead marked the climax of studies begun as early as 1965.
High Island, which lies to the south-east of the Sai Kung peninsular, will be joined to the mainland by the
construction of two huge rock dams rising 210ft. above sea level at the east- em and western ends of the narrow strait running between High Island and the eastern end of Sai Kung peninsu- lar.
As soon as the dams are high enough sea water will be pumped out and replaced by the inflow of fresh water collected from the hills between Sha Tin and High Island by a system of tunnels and shafts, and by excess water brought through the same tun- nels from the Plover Cove scheme. New pumping stations, treatment works, pipelines and service reservoirs will be built in Kowloon and on Hong Kong island.
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