2
A
9/2/
8.
the reservoir is acceptable for supply purposes.
(b) The Plover Cove reservoir is incomplete and
has been excluded from calculations of probable water yield from rainfall. But it is already collecting rainfall, and a special floating pumping station and outlet main is being constructed to obtain access to water in the lower levels of the reservoir. These lower levels were originally set aside as "dead water" because the water was expected to be of poor quality, and because there might have been seepage problems through the dam if the reservoir were drawn down too far below the sea level outside. The seepage problem, now that the reservoir has been pumped dry, does not appear to be critical, and although the "dead water" will be rather saline because of diffusion of salt from the mud on the bottom of the reservoir, there is a fair prospect that, by the end of September this year, it will be possible to draw some water out of Plover Cove. It is more difficult to estimate how much, and with very low summer rainfall the quantity could be small.
In the longer term, Hong Kong has been planning its water resources so that a daily 4 hours supply will be independent of water from China. However, if the Chinese water is not resumed in October it would be necessary to review this policy. The practical result would be an acceleration in the programme of construction of new reservoirs, and advancement of the date on which desalination will be the only available means of increasing supplies.
9.
attached.
10.
A table showing the present target storage is
A return will be furnished to you weekly on
the lines of the attached pro forma.
2 Enclosures.
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