Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 702

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The difficulty of supplying the Western District of the City at an adequate pressure was again experienced during the early part of the year when the contents of Pokfulam Reservoir had to be conserved for the supply of the High Level and Hill Districts. Measures for remedying this defect are under consideration.

The quantity of water pumped to the High Levels of the City during the year amounted to 54,914,000 gallons, equal to an average daily consumption of 150,449 gallons, whilst 24,965,000 gallons were pumped to the Hill District, giving an average daily consumption of 68,394 gallons. As compared with 1906 there was an increase of 3,917,000 gallons in the quantity pumped to the High Level District and a decrease of 72,000 gallons in that pumped to the Hill District. The grand total pumped during the year amounted to 79,879,000 gallons as compared with 76,034,000 in 1906. Tabulated statements containing particulars of the quantities pumped to the High Level and Hill Districts respectively and comparative statements of the quantities pumped during the last 10 years will be found in Appendices E to G.

The new rising main for conveying water from Bonham Road Pumping Station to the Peak arrived in November and the pipes were conveyed into position ready for laying during 1908.

The new and enlarged rising main from Bonham Road Pumping Station to the reser- voir for the supply of the High Level District was brought into use in September and proved of great advantage. It will be extended to a new reservoir now under construction at a greater altitude than the existing one as soon as it has been completed,

All motors, engines and station buildings were kept in a good state of repair during

the year.

The number of meters in use at the end of the year was 1,005 in the City and 164 in the Hill District, or a total of 1,169 as compared with 831 and 163 in 1906 or a total of 994.

The quantity of water supplied by meter was as follows:-

Filtered :-Trade,

Domestic (City),.

Gallons. .122,647,000

*

(Hill District),

Unfiltered,

..107,485,000

24,965,000

24,968,000

280,065,000

This shews an increase of 8,351,000 gallons in the quantity of water supplied by meter over 1906.

New services were constructed or old ones repaired, altered, improved or connected to the mains to the number of 706, and 33 supplies were laid on for building purposes.

The number of inspections of private services was 2,412; all defects were made good after the usual notices had been served.

55. Maintenance of Kowloon Waterworks.--The supply during the whole year was derived from the new Gravitation Works.

The total consumption for the year amounted to 236,266,000 gallons which gives a daily consumption of 647,000 gallons or, taking an estimated population of 78,500, 8.2 gallons per head. These figures show an increase of 56,438,000 gallons over the consump- tion during 1906. Details are given in Appendices H and J.

The supply was constant throughout the year and the Government Analyst reported that the water was of excellent quality.

The various buildings and the pumping machinery were maintained in good repair though the latter is now disused.

Considerable extensions to the distribution system were made and a complete service of fire hydrants was introduced on the mains throughout the peninsula.