PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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made possible by the heavy rainfall in April and May which resulted in a substantial rise in the quantity of water in storage. Full supplies were maintained to industry and other essential users during water restrictions, and after restrictions were lifted a full supply was maintained for the remainder of the year.
The Lok On Pai desalting plant, which had been reactivated during water restrictions as an additional resource to supplement supplies, produced some 182 000 cubic metres per day during its period of operation. With the improvement in the total water storage quantity, the desalter ceased operations on May 16 and reverted to a 'standby resource'.
Further increases in supplies of water from China were agreed during the year. An agreement was reached with the Chinese authorities for additional supplies by increasing the 182 million cubic metres already agreed to 220 million cubic metres for 1982-3 and providing a further increase of 35 million cubic metres for each of the years 1983-4, 1984–5 and 1985-6.
At the beginning of 1982, there were_260 million cubic metres of water in storage, compared with 308 million cubic metres at the start of 1981. Rainfall for the year was 3 248 millimetres compared with the average of 2 225 millimetres. A total of 239 million cubic metres of water was piped from China during the year.
On January 1, 1982, the combined storage in Hong Kong's largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove, was 208 million cubic metres. The salinity of the water at High Island remained at about 15 milligrams per litre, while at Plover Cove the salinity varied from 149 milligrams per litre at the beginning of the year to 78 milligrams per litre at the end of the year.
A peak consumption of 1.70 million cubic metres per day was experienced as compared with the 1981 peak of 1.62 million cubic metres per day. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 1.42 million cubic metres, an increase of 2.2 per cent over the 1981 average of 1.39 million cubic metres. During the period of water restrictions it was estimated that the daily consumption was reduced by nearly 20 per cent as a direct result of the restrictions. A total of 519 million cubic metres of potable water was consumed, compared with 507 million cubic metres in 1981. In addition, 87 million cubic metres of salt water for flushing was supplied, 4.5 per cent more than in 1981.
Planning studies were completed on the improvement of potable water supplies to Chai Wan, Shau Kei Wan, Quarry Bay, Kowloon East, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, South Lantau, Peng Chau and Tap Mun; on the improvement of salt water supplies to Aberdeen, Central District, Ho Man Tin and Kowloon South; on the interim supply to Junk Bay and Ma On Shan; and on the new treatment works at Sai Kung and Au Tau. Other studies in hand included those for the improvement of water supplies to the Mass Transit Railway depot development in Chai Wan and to Stanley, Repulse Bay, Jardine's Lookout, Central Mid-levels, Ma Chai Hang and Chuk Yuen Estates and Tsing Yi Island; for permanent water supplies to Junk Bay and Ma On Shan; and for a new treatment works at Ma On Shan.
During the year, construction of the reception and distribution systems for future increases in the water supply from China continued, with some of the pipelines completed and put into service. Design of further treatment plants and ancillary facilities at Yau Kom Tau was also taken up. Design and construction work progressed satisfactorily on the new supply systems for Sha Tin, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long new towns together with the systems for Yuen Long Industrial Estate. On Hong Kong Island, work continued on improvement of water supply to Pok Fu Lam, Wong Chuk Hang, North Point, Quarry Bay, Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan. In the New Territories, work proceeded to improve