ENG-1947 — Page 142

Slightly over 40% of the Island's consumption is supplied from the mainland reservoirs, the water being conveyed across the harbour in two 21" diameter submarine pipes. On account of the hilly nature of the Island a big percentage of the water has to be pumped, and in some areas re-pumped, necessitating a large number of pumps and service reservoirs. Most of the water supplied is both filtered and purified by chemical treatment and a satisfactory standard of purity is maintained. All water is supplied to consumers through meters and the charge is based on the total cost of provision including capital charges.

The system of recording and computing statistics, hurriedly reinstated at the re-occupation, has been completely revised and improved, and the rehabilitation of the Waterworks has progressed to such an extent that daily consumption reached record figures both on the island and mainland during the year. Owing to the late end of the rainy season it was found possible to maintain an unrestricted supply till the end of the year. The purification of the filtered water has suffered somewhat owing to the failure of supplies of Chlorine Gas which neces- sitated a reversion to the use of Chloride of Lime.

The entire 8,000,000 gallons filtration plant, which was looted during the Japanese occupation, has now with the exception of the pumps been replaced, although construction work has not yet started. The Botanical Gardens Service Reservoir whose capacity had been reduced by leakage to little more than 1,000,000 gallons, has now been restored to its full capacity of 4.6 million gallons: it is from this reservoir that the. city area on the island is supplied. Major repairs were also carried out to Piper's Hill Service Reservoir and to the granite pitching of the main dam at Jubilee Reservoir. The stock of sand at the Slow Sand Filters which had reached a dangerously low level during the occupation was gradually built up during the year; some of this plant is to be replaced by filters of the rapid gravity type in the near future.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining adequate supplies of pipe, but, in spite of this, some 26,000 feet of main from 11′′ upwards on the Island and 7,300 feet on the mainland were

were laid; these works included extensions and improvements of the existing system as well as the replacement of outworn piping. All pedestal hydrants and most of the ground hydrants have been repaired or replaced. The restora- tion to its pre-war efficiency of the meter service has also been retarded by difficulties of supply, but the receipt of 7,000 new meters from England and the completion of 18,700 repairs to existing meters enabled the service to be partly restored, so that by the end of the year about 23,300 consumers were registered.

Electricity.

In 1941 the generating plant of the Hong Kong Electric Company which supplies the Island of Hong Kong, had a total capacity of 54,000 kw. The plant was severely neglected

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