Sessional_Paper_1928 — Page 67

- 63

No.

1928

HONG KONG.

WATER SUPPLY, HONG KONG.

Reports submitted by the Director of Public Works.

:

The following reports on the investigations carried out to ascertain the most feasible and economical method of augmenting the Water Supply to the Colony are submitted here- with:

(a) Report upon Water Supply and extensions by Mr. Henderson, Waterworks

Engineer.

(b) Report upon the utilization of Salt Water for flushing purposes by Mr.

Newhouse, Drainage Engineer.

(c) Reports upon the Distillation of Sea water and the power obtainable by the introduction of refuse destructors by Mr. Jackman, A. D. P. W.

2. Owing to the excessively hilly formation of the Island of Hong Kong the question of water supply presents greater difficulties than are met with in many other parts of the world. The waterworks in consequence, consist of a collection of scattered reservoirs at varying elevations, the water supplies from which are gravitated or pumped into the city along circuitous routes, and necessitate a series of filter beds and service reservoirs of varying sizes and at different levels, making the question of distribution a matter of great intricacy and calling for very careful manipulation to obtain the most economic distribu- tion (in some cases involving pumping) to the localities at which the water supply is re- quired. This is very clearly shown on the plan which accompanies Mr. Henderson's Report.

3. Investigations show that the best method of augmenting the water supply of the Island is by the construction of a Reservoir at Aberdeen and thus increasing the supply to the West of the City where it is most needed-other Reservoir sites have been reported upon -but all these have decided disadvantages or difficulties in the way of their develop- ment. Further increase to the Water Supply of Hong Kong can be obtained by connecting the Island supply with that of the mainland. This proposal forms part of the 1st Section of the Shing Mun Valley Water Scheme.

4. The Report dated 20/2/28 by Mr. Henderson, Waterworks Engineer, upon the existing water supply, estimated requirements and proposed extensions, brings out very forcibly the urgent need for the programme of additional works which he submits to be undertaken and carried out without interruption during the next five years, if the water requirements of the Colony are to be adequately met it further shews that it is only due. to a most fortunate series of years of rainfall above the average that a serious water shortage has been prevented, and as stated these fortuitous circumstances cannot be ex- pected to continue.

5. The question of conserving the Water Supply by the use of Salt Water for flushing purposes has been carefully examined and separately reported upon by Mr. Newhouse. The cost of the installation of a sea water flushing system is estimated approximately at $4,143,300.00, and the quantity of filtered water thus saved is estimated at only 94.5 mill. gals. per annum, which makes the cost of the scheme prohibitive.