LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
consumption throughout the year was 2.52 million cubic metres, a decrease of 0.4 per cent compared with the 1994 average of 2.53 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 919 million cubic metres, compared with 923 million cubic metres in 1994. In addition, 159 million cubic metres of sea water was supplied for flushing, compared with 142 million cubic metres in 1994.
Water Works
Major construction work completed during the year included the Au Tau Treatment Works Stage II, Sham Tseng Treatment Works Stage I; and extension of the Sheung Shui Treatment Works and Yau Kom Tau Treatment Works. The Sham Tseng project brought fully-treated water to the area for the first time.
Construction work for the Ma On Shan Treatment Works and several service reservoirs was in progress. Planning work continued for increased capacity to meet the demand from new developments in Central and Western on Hong Kong Island, Sham Tseng, Kwun Tong, Yau Tong, Tsing Yi, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, the northwestern New Territories and Ma On Shan.
Feasibility studies for two major treatment works at Tai Po and Ngau Tam Mei were completed and detailed design began. Detailed design for the major renovation of the sea water supply system for Central Kowloon was completed. Other major design work mainly concentrated on the provision of additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O, Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun and the Western Mid-Levels, and the extension of water supply to the West Kowloon Reclamation.
Work on the permanent water supply system for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and other developments in North Lantau associated with the Port and Airport Development Strategy was being implemented in stages. Stage I works to be commissioned by mid-1996 include submarine and land mains, a water treatment works, pumping stations, a service reservoir and an aqueduct between Siu Ho Wan and Silver Mine Bay. Other Stage I works to supply Port Development will be completed in 1998.
To eliminate the risks associated with chlorine storage, replacement of gas chlorination plants by on-site hypochlorite generation plants at sea water pumping stations continued. Hazard assessment on the chlorination installations of five minor treatment works was completed. Reprovisioning of Tai Lam Chung Prechlorination House was in progress.
Water Accounts and Customer Relations
The number of consumer accounts continued to rise at a rate of about two per cent and the consumer account base expanded to approximately 2.1 million accounts at the end of 1995. The Sewage Services Ordinance came into effect on April 1, 1995. For administrative convenience, sewage charges and water charges are combined into one single bill and the Water Supplies Department acts as an agent to collect general sewage charges on behalf of the Drainage Services Department.
Computer systems were widely employed to provide efficient enquiry services; to handle applications for water supply and change of consumer particulars; and to issue demand notes for water and sewage charges, connection fees and water deposits.
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