ENG-2004 — Page 308

258 Land, Public Works and Utilities

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

To solve the water shortage problem and to meet the increasing demand, Hong Kong began to receive raw water from the Shenzhen Reservoir in Guangdong in 1960 when a scheme was completed for receiving a supply of 22.7 million cubic metres a year. The scheme was expanded in 1965 by constructing an 80-kilometre transfer system (the Dongshen Water Supply System) to deliver water from Dongjiang (East River) to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Reservoir.

Dongjiang water is Hong Kong's major source of raw water. Under the current agreement, the supply quantity for 2004 was 820 million cubic metres. Negotiation with the Guangdong provincial authorities on the annual supply quantity beyond 2004 is in progress.

The Dongshen Water Supply System initially had an open channel design. To eliminate the water pollution problem, a closed aqueduct system was built. Since commissioning of the entire system in June 2003, there have been noticeable improvements in the quality of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2004, 411 million cubic metres of water were in storage, compared with 446 million cubic metres a year earlier. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held a total of 377 million cubic metres. Rainfall of 1 739 millimetres, equivalent to 21 per cent lower than the annual average of 2 214 millimetres, was recorded in 2004.

A peak daily consumption of 2.79 million cubic metres was recorded on September 20, 2004, compared with the 2003 peak of 2.91 million cubic metres. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.61 million cubic metres, compared with the 2003 average of 2.67 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 955 million cubic metres, compared with 974 million cubic metres in 2003. In addition, 255 million cubic metres of sea water was supplied for flushing, compared with 241 million cubic metres in 2003.

Development of Alternative Water Resources

As part of the Total Water Management programme, the Government has started pilot schemes on seawater desalination and reclaimed water reuse employing advanced technologies with a view to exploring the technical feasibility and cost- effectiveness of utilising some of these water resources to meet part of the future water demand.

Water Works

Work is progressing on the first stage of the programme for the replacement and rehabilitation of some 3 050 kilometres of water-mains which began in December 2000. Detailed design of works for the second stage is scheduled to commence in 2005.