WATERWORKS OFFICE
Deputy Director of Public Works (Water):
T. O. MORGAN, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
10.01. There was again a substantial increase in the demand for water. The necessity for reduced and varying hours of supply makes comparisons difficult, but it is significant that during the summer months of April to September approximately 13,250 million gallons were consumed in a total of 1,100 hours, compared with 15,500 million gallons in 2,100 hours during the previous year. The former represents consumption at a rate of 12.05 million gallons per hour compared with the 1961-62 figure of 7.38. This illustrates the increasing difficulty in controlling consumption by reducing hours of supply.
10.02. Because of this increase in demand, and the very dry weather conditions throughout the year, the maintenance of a supply of approximately 8 hours per day during the summer and 5 hours during the winter was only made possible by the additional water obtained from the Sham Chun Reservoir.
General
MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
10.03. The rate of development and redevelopment showed no signs of diminishing, and the increase in demand was due largely to accelerated progress on resettlement and low cost housing estates, and the replacement of small buildings with large multi-storey blocks of flats. These necessitated considerable extensions to the distribution system, and thanks to work carried out progressively over the past few years, significant improvements in supply to individual properties were possible despite the increased demand. A large number of complaints was inevitable as a result of severe reduction in supplies which became necessary at intervals during the year, but after short periods of readjustment it was possible to restore a satisfactory supply in the majority of cases.
10.04. The 8 hour daily supply was continued until the 20th May when, due to the late advent of summer rains, it was necessary to reduce to 4 hours. After 24 days the 8 hour supply was restored and maintained until the 24th July, when it was reduced to 5 hours. Further reduction to 3 hours was made on the 31st August, but as a result of typhoon
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