211
16. Maintenance of Waterworks.--The waterworks have been maintained in a satisfactory condition without any exceptional expenditure. A portion of the old main from the Blue Pool, Wongneichung, has been re-laid in consequence of the old pipes having become furred.
17. The scarcity of water which prevailed during the months of March and April necessitated the introduction of the intermittent system of supply. The following tabular statement shows the hours of supply and the consumption during the period referred to :-
Month.
Date.
Hours of Supply.
Daily Consumption. Gallons.
Consumption per head per diem.
March,
1st to 8th
Constant
2,881,350
19
March,
9th to 13th
5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
2,460,360
16
6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
March,
14th to 16th
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1,537,725
10
March,
17th to 23rd
6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
1,466,464
91
April,.
April,.
24th to 30th
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
1,431,048
94
18. The dry season began on the 22nd September, 1892, and terminated on the 27th April, 1893, thus extending over 218 days. The rainfall from 1st October, 1892, to 30th April, 1893, amounted to 14.77 inches (5.40 inches of which fell in the last 4 days) against an average of 18.34 inches for the past 39 years.
years. Pokfulam and Tytam reservoirs were filled to their utmost capacity up to the 5th and 6th October respectively.
19. The quantity of water filtered at the Tytam and Pokfulam Filter Beds during the past year has been 822,293,000 and 275,773,000 gallons respectively, making a total of 1,098,066,000 gallons. This is equal to a consumption of 16.55 gallons per head per day for a population of 163,948 after deducting 107,482,000 gallons used for trade purposes, &c. The reduction in the consumption is partly attributable to the curtailment of the supply for a period as already described and partly to the measures that are being adopted to check the waste of water.
20. Every endeavour is being made to reduce the excessive waste which is constantly going on in private tenements. A "Prescribed Domestic Quantity" is being determined under Section 10 of the Waterworks Ordinance for all houses in the Colony, and meters are being fixed to ascertain the consumption per head per diem. This "quantity" as published in the Garette has varied from 5 to 18 gallons per head per diem and has been fixed proportionally to the rating valuation of the premises.
21. In the tests made the actual consumption has varied from 4.5 to 49.1 gallons per head per diet. In 76 instances, houses have been disconnected from the mains on account of excessive consumption and have only been re-connected after a period of between two and three months and on application being made in writing by the owners. The following four examples clearly show the necessity for the action which has been taken (the figures represent gallons per head per diem):
Consumption during 2nd test.
·
(I),.... (II), (III), (IV),
Allowance.
..11
.15
5
5
Consumption during 1st test.
42.5
25.9
16.0
16.5
9.2
12.6
6.3
7.0
+---
The second test was made after the houses in question had been re-connected on the written application of the owners.
22. The number of meters now in use for measuring the "non-domestic" supply is 155; a rent is charged for them and they are kept in repair by the Department. The quantity of filtered water supplied by meter during the past year has been 107,482,000 gallons, and of unfiltered water 61,329,000 gallons.
23. Applications to the number of 499 were received for laying on water to private tenements or for repairs to existing services, and these have all been executed. Great assistance might be rendered in checking the waste of water which goes on if the occupiers of houses would occasionally examine their taps and other fittings and report any defects. In many cases the substitution of a new for an old washer would be all that would be found necessary.
24. Five diagrams are annexed showing the hourly consumption of water per day, one of which applies to the period when the supply was shut off from 9 P.M. to 5 a.m.
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