ENG-2000 — Page 288

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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new type of seawall will help reduce the reflection of waves in the inner part of the Victoria Harbour.

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

Guangdong rivers are Hong Kong's major source of raw water. This arrangement dates back to 1960, when a scheme was formulated for receiving a piped supply of. 22.7 million cubic metres a year.

In 1989, a long-term agreement was concluded with the Guangdong Provincial Authority for a reliable water supply. As a result of the decrease in demand for raw water from Guangdong due to heavy rainfall in recent years and the declining demand from local industry, an agreement was reached with the Guangdong Provincial Authority in July 1998 to reduce the annual increase stipulated in the 1989 agreement from 30 million cubic metres to 10 million cubic metres from 1998 to 2004. As a result, the additional intake in the seven years has been reduced by 560 million cubic metres cumulatively. The supply quantity for 2000 was 780 million cubic metres, rising to 820 million cubic metres in 2004, compared with the present designed maximum supply capacity of 1 100 million cubic metres per annum. The annual supply quantity beyond 2004 will be subject to further review.

The quality of raw water from Guangdong continued to improve as a result of the efforts made by the Guangdong Provincial Authority, including the commissioning of a biological nitrification plant and sediment removal in the Shenzhen Reservoir, and strict enforcement of laws on pollution control. Further improvement in water quality is expected when the construction of the Dongshen closed aqueduct system is completed in 2003.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2000, 480 million cubic metres of water were in storage, compared with 501 million cubic metres at the end of 1999. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs High Island and Plover Cove, held 422 million cubic metres. Rainfall of 2 752 millimetres, which is 24 per cent higher than the annual average of 2 214 millimetres, was recorded in 2000.

A peak daily consumption of 2.71 million cubic metres was recorded on October 11, which was the same as the 1999 peak consumption. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.53 million cubic metres, compared with the 1999 average of 2.50 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 924 million cubic metres, compared with 911 million cubic metres in 1999. In addition, 229 million cubic metres of sea water were supplied for flushing, compared with 212 million cubic metres in 1999.

Water Works

The Ngau Tam Mei Treatment Works and two Regional Offices in Kowloon were completed. The first stage of the 20-year programme for the replacement or rehabilitation of some 3 050 kilometres of watermains commenced. Construction works for the treatment works at Tai Po and for the additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Kowloon West and East, Hong Kong Island, Tseung Kwan O and Tin Shui Wai were in progress. The major improvement