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Reservoir Site (d) of 175 million gallons capacity is situated in the valley Kowloon
Byewash, immediately below the existing Kowloon Reservoir and would impound the over- flows from that reservoir and the Raw Water Reception Reservoir in the Lower Sheklaipui Valley. This site is a favourable one.
Scheme
The Shing Mun Valley Scheme has already been dealt with in my report to Shing Mun you dated 8.4.24 and portions of the 1st. Section have been completed while other portions are still under construction.
This exhausts the possible works comparatively close to Kowloon which would naturally produce the cheapest water, but when necessary there are sources farther afield available.
POSSIBLE SAVINGS BY USE OF SALT WATER.
The question of relative increase of supply by means of savings through the possible use of salt water for flushing, street washing etc. has been dealt with by another Officer and in the event of a water carriage system being adopted will require very careful consideration. In the meantime, however, the estimat- ed savings do not appear to justify the expenditure necessary and I am still of opinion that the conclusion of the Committee appointed to investigate this sub- ject in 1921 and contained in paragraph 8 of their report is sound. Paragraph 8 reads as follows:-
C
The time may come when the limit of the fresh water resources of the Colony has been so nearly reached that it will be more economical to obtain a supply of Salt Water than to obtain an equal additional supply of fresh water, but it does not appear that that time has yet arrived, and no works which may be carried out now for the use of fresh water will in any way interfere with the use of Salt Water when its use is found to be more economical."
As long as fresh water can be obtained cheaper than salt water, then fresh water should be used for all purposes.
PROPOSALS.
Under "Comparisons" I have shown that at present the Colony's supply is short of estimated requirements by 1.55 million gallons per day and that by 1932 without new works the shortage will have risen to 4.25 million gallons per day. I would therefore propose a programme of works to wipe out this deficit by 1932, the works to be those producing cheapest water and having lowest re- current charges in the way of pumping.
i
Of the possible extensions on the Island the two small dams in Tytam are not economical from a financial or waterworks standpoint, while the site in Tytam Bay is owing to its enormous cost undesirable.
The Pokfulam Site is undesirable owing to necessary resumptions, while the Taikoo Area is said to be fully taxed by the holders of the water rights, hold- ing out little or no gain from resumption.
The Aberdeen Valley Area lends itself to economical development as only limited, water, rights are held by the Taishing Paper Manufacturing Co. and this area is comparatively near the Western end of the City where additional supply is most needed.
Hong Kong.
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