ENG-1957 — Page 287

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS

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and the proposed construction of a new reservoir at Shek Pik, described later in this Chapter, the fact must be faced that the storage, together with the dry-weather yield from streams, may still be inadequate for the demands of a rapidly growing population and increasing development, and that restrictions on the hours of supply may ultimately have to go on being imposed every dry season. Of the maximum possible storage only 2,362,000,000 gallons can be held on the Island, and with the completion of the new reservoir approximately one half of the Island's consumption is met from the New Territories. The water is conveyed across the harbour in two 21-inch diameter concrete-lined steel sub- marine pipes. On account of the hilly nature of the Island a large proportion of the water has to be pumped, and in some areas repumped, necessitating numerous pumping stations and service reservoirs.

In addition to these works, Hong Kong possesses a system of catchwaters 35 miles long, and when the Tai Lam Chung scheme is complete the total length will be about 50 miles. These channels run along the mid-levels of various hillsides, intercepting streams and water courses and conveying their water into storage reservoirs. The water supply to the Island and the urban areas of Kowloon is filtered and sterilized by chemical treatment, and a high standard of purity is main- tained. Practically all the water is supplied to consumers through meters, at an average cost of 80 cents (1/-d) per 1,000 gallons. Some of the poorer districts are at present provided with water through stand-pipes, free of charge.

Throughout the winter months of 1956-57 there was a five-hour supply each day. Rain fell early in May, and the hours of supply were increased to nine on 10th May. On 21st May there was exceptionally heavy rainfall, 28.21 inches being recorded in 24 hours at the Beacon Hill Waterworks Recording Station, which received the exceptional total of 62.46 inches during the month. This almost constituted a Colony record, and all reservoirs, with the exception of the