11, AIRLIE GARDENS,
CAMPDEN HILL,
7th August, 1894.
Re WATER SUPPLY OF VICTORIA, HONG KONG.
To THE CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.
GENTLEMEN,
1. Having conferred with the Director of Public Works, Hong Kong, I have the honour to submit the following report on the water supply of the City of Victoria, Hong Kong,
HISTORY OF THE WATERWORKS.
2. Prior to about the year 1889 the whole supply was derived from the Pokfulum reservoir. The daily quantity of water which this reservoir can supply may be liberally estimated at 1,000,000 gallons per day, in a season of abundant rainfall. As the capacity of the reservoir is small--66,000,000 gallons only-in dry seasons the supply is materially less.
3. The water was distributed for the most part on the intermittent system, in a manner that exaggerated the well-known evils of this vicious system of distribution. The houses were, as a rule, unprovided with cisterns, and house services were devoid of the appliances essential to an intermittent supply. Consequently, though the supply was scanty, waste was enormous. This state of affairs was fully described in a report which I submitted to you in 1883, and which was laid before both Houses of Parliament.
4. In 1889 the new Tytam Works were completed, and a complete net- work of mains for the proper distribution of water was commenced, and practically completed by 1892. These mains were designed to distribute the water on the constant system, and to give ample protection against fire. Arrangements were also made by which a supply of water is given to the Peak, and the hill districts above the levels of the reservoirs; the motive power for pumping, in one case to an elevation of 1,800 feet, in the other to 700 feet above sea level, being obtained from the water which is supplied to the lower and populous districts of the town.
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