XN000022-1996-03-22 — Page 15

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This new treatment works at Sham Tseng, which has been put into operation on December 28 last year, is the major component of a water supply scheme implemented by the Water Supplies Department to provide a fully treated water supply to Sham Tseng, Tsing Lung Tau and Ma Wan.

"The completion of this important project is another milestone in demonstrating Government's long-term commitment to the continuous pursuit of improvement and upgrading of its services to the community," said Mr Hu.

The first stage of the Sham Tseng Treatment Works, which has now been completed, costs $140 million and provides 23,000 cubic metres of treated water per day. Stage II of the project, which is now being designed, will, when completed, increase the capacity of the Treatment Works to 36,500 cubic metres per day to meet the demand of the developments in this area.

The new installation is a two-stage treatment works which employs primary and secondary processes of clarification and filtration as a means of achieving optimum water quality. The quality of water is systematically monitored by means of chemical and bacteriological testing of water samples taken to ensure that the final water supplied to the consumers complies fully with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality recommended by the World Health Organization.

The inauguration of this new treatment works was also timed to mark the United Nations World Water Day.

"March 22 has been declared by the United Nations as the World Water Day," said the Deputy Director of Water Supplies, Mr Ko Chan-gock.

"The declaration is in consideration of the importance of water resource development to economic productivity and social well-being; the growing scarcity of water resources; and the requirement of public awareness at local, regional and international levels for the promotion of water conservation", he added.

Mr Hu and Mr Ko are the current Chairman and Secretary of the Asia Pacific Group of the International Water Supply Association respectively.

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