XN000022-1981-12-20 — Page 11

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1981

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NT SWIMMING POOL WATER FOR STREET WASHING

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A TOTAL OF 12 MILLION LITRES OF FALLOW SWIMMING POOL WATER IS BEING USED FOR STREET CLEANING THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES SINCE THE START OF WATER RATIONING IN EARLY DECEMBER.

THE WATER CAN FILL 2 000 LOADS OF STREET WASHING VEHICLES HAVING A CAPACITY OF 6 000 LITRES EACH, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE WATER JET OF THE STREET WASHING VEHICLES, THE WATER CAN BE USED TO CLEAN UP 1 200 KILOMETRES OF ROAD SURFACE OF HIGHWAY, STREET AND SOIL PAVEMENT.

WHILE FLUSHING ON MAIN ROADS, THE STREET WASHING VEHICLES CAN COVER SIX LOADS ON EIGHT WORKING HOURS.

THE WATER IS ALSO USED FOR WATERING OF PLANTS IN ROADSIDE FLOWER BEDS, TURFED SPORTS GROUND AND OTHER AMENITY PLOTS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

THE WATER IS FROM THE TWO PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AT SHA TIN AND KWAI CHUNG, WHICH WERE CLOSED ON DECEMBER 1 TO FACILITATE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WORK. THEY BECOME LARGE RESERVOIRS FOR THE STREET WASHING FLEET OF THE NTSD.

THE ARRANGEMENT IS AIMED AT SUPPORTING WATER RESTRICTION AND SAVING WATER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

STARTING JANUARY, WATER AT THE FANLING PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SIMILAR PURPOSE WHEN THE HEATED POOL IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR OVERHAUL.

AT THIS STAGE, STREET WASHING VEHICLES IN TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG CAN GET THEIR WATER FROM THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL WHILE THOSE IN SHA TIN AND TAI PO FROM THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL.

AS FOR OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE NO POOL WATER IS AVAILABLE, THE PRACTICE OF USING WELL AND STREAM WATER TO WASH STREETS HAS TO BE CONTINUED.

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