Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 200

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34. The following tabular statement shews the periods during which the intermittent system was introduced, the hours of supply, the average daily consumption and average consumption per head, per diem. (Population 195,000.)

Month.

Date.

Hours of Supply.

Average Daily Cousumption.

Consumption per head per diem.

gallons.

April June

16th 3rd

6 A.M. to 9 A.M.

1,500,816

gallons. 7.7

June

July

23rd 1

4th

6 A.M. to 10 A.M.

1,883,500

9.7

October

December

1st 31st

6 AM to 10 A.M.

1,823,250

9.4

!

35. The water in the Taitam Reservoir only attained a maximum level of 14 feet 6 inches below the sill of the old overflow during the year.

36. The quantity of water filtered at Taitam and Pokfulam Filters during the past year was 672,005,000 gallons and 191,625,000 gallons respectively, making a total of 863,630,000 gallons, equal to a consumption of 12.14 gallons per head, per diem, for all purposes. (Estimated population 195,000.)

One hundred and ten million seventy-four thousand gallons have been supplied by meter.

37. In addition to the above, 85,603,000 gallons have been supplied from the Wongneichong and Tai Hang streams (Blue Pool and Mint Dam) for trade purposes only.

38. I regret to have to report the work of detail inspection of house services has been consider- ably interrupted owing to the introduction of the intermittent system. However, 4,168 house services have been inspected, out of which 1,199 were found defective. The consumption in 425 houses was ascertained with the following results that the consumption exceeded the prescribed domestic quantity in 232 houses; on receipt of notice this was abated in 211 houses, and in the remaining 21 houses the services were disconnected.

39. Owing to the apparent excessive consumption of water in the Hill District, during the latter part of the year all services to houses in occupation in the Peak were metered in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of Ordinance 6 of 1895. C.S.O. 243.

40. It has to be remembered that all the water supplied to the Hill District has to be pumped up through a height of about 1,600 feet, and though this is done at comparatively small cost by hydraulic machinery when the constant supply is maintained to the city, it involves considerable expenditure during the intermittent supply when recourse has to be had to steam power.

41. The number of meters fixed in the city is 211. In the Hill District 104. In Kowloon 4. 42. The Kowloon water-works were sufficiently advanced to admit of water being turned on to the public fountains in the villages of Yaumati and Hung Hom and in the lower levels of Tsimshatsui in July last, and a constant supply has been maintained since.

43. Applications for the construction of 131 new services and repairs to 436 existing ones, have been received.

44. Tabular statements giving information respecting the quantity of water in the reservoirs and that supplied to the several districts during the past year will be found in Appendices A., B. and C.

45. Diagrams shewing the hourly consumption of water during periods of 24 hours are attached. Appendix D.

46. The expenditure in connection with the maintenance of the water-works has been somewhat increased during the past year, owing to the necessity of using steam power for pumping water up to the Hill District, consequent on the introduction of the intermittent supply to the city.

47. Maintenance of Sewers.The sewers and storm water drains have, as far as practicable, been inaintained in a satisfactory condition without exceptional expenditure.

48. Some of the storm water drains require improvement and this is being carried out as the sewage from private premises is diverted from them.

49. It is satisfactory to note from the report of the Sanitary Surveyor to the Sanitary Board that considerable progress is being made towards remedying the defects in the drainage of private premises. As these are remedied and the sewage is diverted from the storm water drain, a considerable improve- ment in this branch of sanitation will doubtless result.

50. Street Lighting.-The lighting of the city by gas and electricity, and of Kowloon Point and Yaumati by gas, has been satisfactorily carried out by the Gas and Electric Companies under their respective contracts.