ENG-1964 — Page 199

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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Ancillary work required to receive water from the East River scheme made satisfactory progress. Additional pumps were in- stalled at Muk Wu and a second 48-inch pipeline was laid from the border to the River Indus.

Satisfactory progress was made on the scheme for extracting up to 200 million gallons a day from the River Indus during flood conditions. The pumping station was substantially completed and equipment is being installed. Twin 54-inch pipelines from the pumping station to link in with Plover Cove project at Tai Po Tau have been completed.

An interesting feature of the Plover Cove and the River Indus schemes is the provision of three inflatable dams in stream courses. These dams consist of neoprene-coated nylon envelopes inflated by combined air and water pressure which enable water to be im- pounded as required, but are so arranged as to deflate during periods of excess flows and thus reduce flooding of the surrounding countryside. These dams were recently developed in the United States and this is the first time that they have been used outside America.

Other projects to augment general water resources made satis- factory progress. Work began on a scheme to collect additional water from the north side of Lantau and deliver it through tunnels to the Shek Pik reservoir. Model tests were carried out to decide on the modifications required to be made to the existing overflow arrangements at the reservoir. The possibility of large-scale flood pumping from the Yuen Long, valley is also being investigated.

A Water Resources Survey Team has been formed jointly by staff of the Waterworks and Consultants. It will investigate addi- tional natural resources and also report on the possibilities and economics of desalination. The study is expected to take at least three years before the final report is ready but significant and useful information will be obtained before then and interim reports made. It is proposed to distill sea water using waste heat from a large refuse-incinerator being constructed in Kowloon; the output will be between two and three million gallons a day and tenders have been sought for suitable plant. A report was received from con- sultants on the possibility of desalination in conjunction with the two power companies and negotiations on management and land were still proceeding with one of the companies.