RATI
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1974.
WATER RATIONING FROM SEPT.25
******
THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, HAS AUTHORISED RESTRICTIONS ON WATER USAGE DURING THE COMING DRY SEASON. THE RESTRICTIONS WILL ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S WATER RESOURCES ARE HUSBANDED CAREFULLY OVER THE WINTER MONTHS SO THAT THEY WILL LAST, WITH AN ADEQUATE RESERVE, INTO THE NEXT RAINY SEASON.
THE RESTRICTIONS WILL CONSIST OF A PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION IN THE DAILY HOURS OF SUPPLY, BEGINNING WITH A CUT TO A 16-HOUR SUPPLY FROM SEPTEMBER 25 AND FOLLOWED BY CUTS TO A 10-HOUR SUPPLY FROM OCTOBER 9 AND TO A 4-HOUR SUPPLY FROM OCTOBER 30. THE OVERALL. OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION BY A QUARTER.
BACKGROUND AND REASONS
THE NECESSITY FOR RESTRICTIONS ARISES, SIMPLY, FROM DROUGHT. THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAS DISCLOSED THAT 1974 HAS BECOME, UP 10 DATE, THE DRIEST YEAR FOR A DECADE. HONG KONG ENTERED THE RAINY SEASON WHICH IS NOW ENDING WITH A HEALTHY STORAGE TOTAL FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR OF ABOUT 40,000 MILLION GALLONS. BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONALLY LIGHT RAINFALL FROM EARLY MAY ONWARDS, THE STORAGE TODAY HAS STAYED AT ROUGHLY THAT LEVEL, INSTEAD OF RISING TO WITHIN SIGHT OF FULL CAPACITY.
THIS LEVEL HEANS THAT AT THE EXPECTED NORMAL RATES OF CONSUMPTION, AND FAILING ANY DRAMATICALLY HIGH RAINFALLS IN THE REMAINING DAYS OF THE +WET+ SEASON (SUCH AS MUST NOW BE RECKONED TO BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY), OUR RESERVOIRS
WOULD BE DRY BY NEXT APRIL. BY ACTING NOW. TO CONSERVE SUPPLIES, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AND THAT, INSTEAD, WE MAINTAIN AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION UNTIL THE RESERVOIRS BEGIN TO FILL NEXT SUMMER.
THE FOLLOWING FIGURĖS TELL THE STORY:
·
NORM FOR JAN. 1 TO SEPT. 11 TOTAL FOR SAME PERIOD 1973 TUTAL FOR SAME PERIOD 1974 1974 DEFICIENCY BELOY NORM DEFICIENCY IN PERCENTAGE
:
RAINFALL
71.4 INCHES
110.6 INCHES 53.4 INCHES 18 INCHES 25%
/TOTAL STORAGE
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