Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 335

331

THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE COLONY.

17. The necessity for further storage in Hongkong again became apparent by the necessity which arose on the 1st May of putting the City on an intermittent supply, which, however, owing to the timely commencement of the rains, only had to be continued for 13 days. Wongneicheong reservoir, holding 33,000,000 gallons, was completed in 1899, and the full benefit of it was obtained for the last dry season. The rainfall of 1899 had only reached 72.71 inches, or 16.29 inches below the average, and 1900 was again short, only reaching 73.71 inches. It has been decided to proceed with the construction of three more reservoirs in the Tytam Valley, and one will be commenced in 1901. The transfer of Mr. CROOK to Gibraltar and the delay in filling up the vacancy caused some delay in starting these works. These reservoirs are estimated to contain 70,000,000, 40,000,000 and 20,000,000 gallons respectively, and to doubt in a wet year all will fill and thus 530,000,000 gallons will be he'd up in Tytam Valley alone. Two of them fill at the expense of Tytam, that is they are in the same watershed and above it. It is also intended to raise Pokfulam two feet which will add 4.000,000 gallons to the supply.

18. The extension of building on the higher levels of the city rendered it necessary to construct a new service reservoir, to replace that to the south of Belilios Terrace. This new reservoir was completed at the end of the year, at a cost of $5,440.03 and now supplies all the new houses on the Pokfulam Conduit Road, besides affording greater pressure for Belilios Terrace and the Robinson Road houses. It is filled by the Arbuthnot Road motor, and a new main of larger dimensions has been laid connecting them. Another new service reservoir, to be filled from the Bowen Road filter beds and reservoir, is required above the site of the Military Hospital and was commenced before the end of the year. A hydraulic motor is being fixed at Bowen Road, to pump up water to this reservoir, as well as to a third new reservoir to be built on the summit of Mount Gough.

19. Owing to the large and permanent increase in the population at the Peak, the supply in the summer months was maintained with much difficulty, and not without more than one break down. The engine house at Bonham Road was enlarged during the year, and a new and much larger boiler fitted up. Steps have been taken and the necessary materials obtained from England to duplicate the rising main from Bonham Road to Victoria Peak, but the Peak supply will be in a somewhat pre- carious and unsatisfactory state, until the Mount Gough reservoir is completed, and filled from Bowen Road motor. Particulars as to increased consumption of water, &c., will be found in Mr. HOLLINGS- WORTH's report and in the appendices.

20. In Kowloon, during the summer, there was much complaint regarding the water supply and not without reason, owing to irregularity and occasional total stoppage in some localities. This was not due to want of water, but to various other causes, the chief being the quantities of sand which were carried down from the valleys by the rain storm of June to the pumping engines causing great wear and damage to the machinery. The pumps were also in need of a complete overhaul, a work which has been undertaken with satisfactory results.

A

21. It is however now certain that in a few years Kowloon will have a plentiful supply of good water without any pumping from a reservoir to the North of the hills bounding the barbour, 54 miles from Tsim Sha Tsui below the new road leading to Taipo. Here an excellent site has been found for a large reservoir, intercepting several perennial streams, and having a drainage area of 517 acres. masonry dam is being designed which will eventually be 100 feet high, or equal to the main dam at Tytan. It will impound 310,000,000 gallons of water with a top level of 455 feet above ordnance datum, thus allowing ample head after filtration and to command the highest part of British Kowloon as well as Kowloon City, Sam Shuipo and other places in New Kowloon still dependent on wells. The completion of this work will be a great boon to Kowloon in many ways, and will no doubt enhance the value of property greatly. At the same time the valleys now reserved for the present water supply will be available for sale, and good building sites both for Europeans and Chinese will be opened up by the construction of cross roads between Hunghom and Yaunati, and similar roads traversing the peninsula from East to West. It is not unreasonable to suppose that before many years British Kowloon will rival Victoria in population and trade. With this in view broad and straight reads are being, and should continue to be laid out, and open spaces for parks and recreation grounds reserved.

The following is Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH's report on Water and Drainage Works :—

WATER WORKS.

A. 1.—Particulars of the quantity of water supplied during 1900 will be found in Appendices A, B & C.

The Total Quantity supplied was 1,279,551,000 filtered and 37,269,000 unfiltered making a total of 1,316,820,000 gallons. The Government Analyst reported monthly that the water was of excellent quality.

2. Intermittent supply had to be resorted to from 1st May to the 13th May inclusive, or 13 days, consequent on the small rainfall during the year 1899 which was 16-29 inches below the average.

3. The water pumped to the High Level District of the City amounted to 23,962,000 gallons over the whole year, equal to a daily consumption of 65,649 gallons, whilst 22,587,000 gallons were pumped to the Hill District giving a daily consumption of 61,882 gallons.

The grand total pumped during the year was 46,279,000 gallons.