Improvements ensuring more reliable system
I refer to the letter headlined 'Supply problems must be rectified' (South China Morning Post, June 11), from a correspondent living in Hing Keng Shek, Sai Kung.
Hing Keng Shek lies within the water supply zone of the Water Supplies Department's Kei Pik Shan supply system, which comprises a pump house, a header tank and delivery mains. When the pump in use shuts down, there is a standby pump which can be automatically switched on to maintain supply.
In the past 12 months, there were two incidents of emergency supply interruptions. The first was on July 18, 2001 involving a disruption of supply of about 45 minutes to deal with a weak pressure problem. The second incident happened on May 27 of this year when the electrical switch gear of the pump house failed.
Unfortunately the automatic electrical alarm system also failed so the response time for pump recovery was longer than normal. We regret the inconvenience that was caused to Hing Keng Shek residents during the incident. The other supply interruptions referred to by your correspondent were planned interruptions for which advance notice was given.
The capacity of the Kei Pik Shan supply system was upgraded in June of last year. To cater for a further increase in demand and to further enhance the reliability of the system, we are also laying a new 150mm diameter watermain from Hiram's Highway to provide an alternative source of supply to the low-level areas of Hing Keng Shek. Upon completion of the new mains in August, the water supply to Hing Keng Shek will be more reliable.
We have also commissioned a project to replace the existing standby pump with a larger pump and the replacement works are expected to be completed before the summer of 2003.
I can assure Hing Keng Shek residents that we will closely monitor the supply situation.
NG CHI-HO
Chief Engineer
Mainland South East
Water Supplies Department
