Mr. Kingsmill's scheme provides for the supply of 2,750,000 gallons per day and was made jointly with Mr. Sidengham Duer, M.LC.E. of Havewood Square, London, is the outcome of several' years of experience in the treatment of the water of the River Wovsung. The point of supply recommended is the river below the lower limits of the harbour, and it is intended that the water shall be taken on the flood tide, thereby ensuring a supply of what is practically Yangtsze water, which compares favourably in quality to that supplied to any of the large towns in England.
He proposes no special arrangement of filters, experience having proved the ordinary ground and sand filters to be quite sufficient for the purpose. He recommends, however, large settling reservoirs to remove as much suspended matter as posible before passing the river water to the filters. For the supply, foreign houses are proposed to have ordinary services, and. the same system so far as practicable is recommended for native dwellings. No Aitliculty will be experienced in the case of buildings technically known as hongs, where two or more houses are contained within brick walls, and it is anticipated that toa moderate extent the same principal will be the most feasible for the supply of native shops.
The difficulties which at first will appear will gradually diminish in the convenience of a water supply and its practical economy force themselves on the owners and tenants. of Chinese houses. At first they will need to be overcome by voluntary measures, as any attempt at coercion until experience has demonstrated the best system of distribution, under untried conditions, would certainly prove inetlectual.
Hydrants are proposed for watering the streets and for a supply of water in case of fire.
As no reservoir capable of containing a sufficient supply of water to keep the services constantly supplied is practicable, he proposes. system uniting the advantages of the so-called ''constant" system, with the economy of the intermittent. The dificult of providing a constant supply is increased from the fact. that fully one-half of the daily supply will be needed in the three hours between 7 and 10am. This ditticulty can only be surmounted by providing engine power and pumps of ficient capacity to undertake this task without being overstrained.
He proposes the division of the districts to be supplied into four; first, Hongkew second, British Settlement rth and Bubbling Well Road; third, British Settlement South; fourth, French Settlement. The water is to be first conveyed through a 27in. main to a central station at the foot of the Garden Bridge. From this the sub-mains will radiate to the several districts, and the entire will be under the control of one man. In connection with the central station he proposes as advisable, though not absolutely necessary, a water tower capable of—containing 100,000 lous. "This can be rendered instantly ailable in case necessity occurs of sending a supply to any district under high resstire. Pressure gauges and escape valves would be fixed where necessary to prevent accidents and control the supply.
The amount provided of 00 gallons per diem is less than 20 gallons per head, and this experience has shown is the smallest amount that cav be calculated on ty provide suflicent water for all purposes,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.