119
No. 92
3
SIR,
HONGKONG.
WATER AND DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.
Report for the Year 1891.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 25th January, 1892.
RESIDENT ENGINEER'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 13th January, 1892.
I bave the honour to forward you the following report on the maintenance and construction of Water and Drainage Works during the year 1891.
EXISTING WORKS.
1. During the year 1890 as stated in my report of that year an addition was made to the Water Works of the City of Victoria by the completion of the Pokfoolum Filter Beds and Service Reservoir, three small covered Service Reservoirs and about 10 miles of mains, the erection of forty-nine public fountains and twenty-four meters; and to the Sewerage Works of the Colony by the completion of about three miles of new main sewers.
These works have all been maintained at a trifling cost and have proved theinselves during the past year to amply meet the requirements for which they were constructed.
2. The Tytam and Pokfoolum reservoirs and the works in immediate connection therewith have been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair without any works of an exceptional nature being required.
The construction of the byepass at the Pokfoolum reservoir reported as being complete in my last annual report has done good service during the past year and materially lessened the work and expenditure that would have been involved at the filter beds had this work not been accomplished.
3. The Wong-nei-cheong Dam or Blue Pool. This reservoir has been cleaned out and the pipes leading therefrom through Bowrington to East Point cleaned. The water from this source is not filtered and is only laid on at present to the Bowrington and East Point Sugar Refineries. Previous to July a portion of the eastern part of the City was supplied from this source, but the houses] connected with the main from the Blue Pool were, on the pipes and fittings being put in order connected with the new mains and are now supplied with filtered water.
All water supplied to the Refineries is measured by meter.
4. The Mint Dam.-This reservoir has also been cleaned out and meters have been fixed to measure the capabilities of the works in connection with it. The water supplied from this source is not filtered and is now mainly used for supplying East Point Sugar Refinery and the stables at Causeway Bay. Previous to last July a portion of the Eastern part of the City was also supplied from
this source.
5. The Tytam and Pokfoolum Filter Beds have been in constant use throughout the year. The maximum rate of filtration has been 800 gallons per square yard per 24 hours in the case of Tytam and at the rate of 1,000 gallons per square yard per 24 hours in the case of the Pokfoolum Filter Beds. The Tytam beds required cleaning once in 13 days and the Pokfoolum Beds once in 12 days.
6. The Distribution Works.The efficiency of the distribution works was materially improved by the addition of some 103 miles of new mains during the year 1890 which early in the past year permitted the removal of several of the old mains which were a constant source of anxiety and waste
of water.
7. The total expenditure on the maintenance of the water works during 1891 was $7,074.53 which is divided as follows:-
Maintaining the Tytam Reservoir Conduit and Filter Beds $1,862.58. Maintaining the Pokfoolum Reservoir Conduit and Filter Beds $1,230.76.
Maintaining the Distribution Works including the cost of pumping water to the higher levels of the City and since the 7th of August to the Hill District $3,981.19.