XN000022-1977-06-25 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1977

FOURTH EVAPORATOR TO GO ON STREAM AT LOK ON PAI DESALTER

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY BROUGHT INTO OPERATION THE FOURTH EVAPORATOR UNIT OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT.

SUBJECT TO TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS AND WATER TESTS, THE UNIT IS EXPECTED TO GO ON STREAM WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO RAISE THE DESALTER'S DAILY FRESH WATER PRODUCTION TO 26.68 MILLION GALLONS.

THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER'S FIFTH AND SIXTH EVAPORATORS WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER, BRINGING THE MAMMOTH PLANT UP TO ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 40 MILLION GALLONS A DAY - AN EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT ONE-SIXTH OF HONG KONG'S PRESENT DAILY WATER CONSUMPTION.

THE P.W.D.'S ACTING GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER (DESALTER), MR. FREDERICK THOMAS, SAID TODAY ALTHOUGH THE FOURTH UNIT WAS NOW OPERATIONAL, IT WOULD BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT BEGAN FEEDING FRESH WATER INTO HONG KONG'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

+AS WITH ANY SOPHISTICATED TECHNICAL OPERATION AND WE MUST REMEMBER THAT LOK ON PAI IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AND MOST COMPLEX DESALTER THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE ONCE THE COMPONENTS ARE RUNNING,+ MR. THOMAS SAID. +THERE ARE ALSO TESTS THAT MUST BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE WATER PRODUCED IS OF SUITABLE PURITY BEFORE THE UNIT GOES ON STREAM,+

THE EVAPORATORS AT LOK ON PAT EACH HAVE 28 CHAMBERS THROUGH WHICH HEATED SEAWATER AND BRINE IS PASSED, GIVING OFF CONDENSED PURE FRESH WATER AT EACH STAGE. THIS OUTPUT IS THEN TREATED WITH CHEMICALS TO GIVE IT SOME TASTE+ DISTILLED WATER IS SOMEWHAT UNPALATABLE AND IT IS THEN PUMPED INTO THE NEARBY TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR TO BE FED INTO THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

THE COMMISSIONING OF THE FOURTH EVAPORATOR COINCIDES WITH AN INTENSIVE STAFF RECRUITING DRIVE FOR THE DESALTING PLANT BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.

+WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO OPERATE FOUR EVAPORATORS, + MR. THOMAS SAID, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR EXTRA STAFF TO MAN THE FIFTH AND SIXTH UNITS.+

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