GVW Prepared for Rainfall Issues

6 April 2009 

Goulburn Valley Water has contingency plans in place for its water supply systems likely to have raw water quality issues as a result of rainfall in bushfire affected areas.

Goulburn Valley Water’s General Manager Technical Services, Mr Allen Gale said that up to nine of the Corporation’s 54 water supply systems are at risk, to varying degrees. “We have sought advice from North East Water, Gippsland Water, East Gippsland Water and other authorities around Australia who have all experienced water quality issues after bushfires,” he said.  “We have also worked with Goulburn Broken CMA, G-MW and DSE to evaluate the potential impact on river water quality.”

“This information helped us to develop our contingency plans and put measures in place so that we are ready to deal with the expected situation,” said Mr Gale.  “We also have backup plans in-case the situation is worse than predicted, such as the experience of North East Water in 2003 when they faced an extreme one in 500 year rainfall event.”

Outlined below are the contingency plans for the various systems.

Thornton Water Supply System draws water from the Rubicon River.  This system is small enough to tanker water to meet the requirements of the residents if required.

Eildon Water Supply System is supplied out of Lake Eildon. There is equipment on site at the Eildon Water Treatment Plant that can be made operational if required, which will add an additional treatment process to the raw water before it goes through the plant.

Seymour & Alexandra Water Supply Systems are supplied from the Goulburn River.  The water treatment plants at both these towns have capacity and ability to cope with the predicted water quality issues.

Yea Water Supply System – is supplied from the Yea River.  There is equipment at the Yea Water Treatment Plant supplied by East Gippsland Water that can be made operational if required.  This equipment will add an additional treatment process to the raw water coming into the plant.

Marysville & Buxton Water Supply System is supplied from the Steavenson River and has the large off stream Aub Cuzens Reservoir.  The Corporation is keeping the levels in Aub Cuzens Reservoir at near full capacity, to provide enough supply for four months for the normal occupancy levels.  This means the reservoir can be isolated in the event of poor water quality in the river.

Kilmore/Wandong/Heathcote Junction Water Supply System is supplied from Sunday Creek Reservoir and via Hollowback Reservoir, which is a large off stream storage.  The Corporation is keeping Hollowback as full as possible to maintain supply if Sunday Creek water quality is affected.  The contingency plans for these towns also include supplying water from the Goulburn River via the new Broadford water supply pipeline and/or from the Melbourne System.

Broadford Water Supply System is supplied from the Goulburn River.  There is also a large off stream reservoir at Broadford with a capacity exceeding four months supply which is being kept as full as possible to use if the Goulburn River water quality deteriorates.

Mr Gale said that the impact on water quality in the Goulburn River downstream of Lake Nagambie is not expected to be as significant and existing water treatment plants will be adequate.  “If we do experience an extreme rainfall event we have plans for additional treatment at the various water treatment plants.”

“When we do experience poor quality runoff it may be necessary to reduce flow rates through our treatment plants to maintain good quality water,” said Mr Gale.  “In this situation it will be important for our customers to use as little water as possible. We will advise customers if this does eventuate.”

Authorised By P.A. Quinn, 104-110 Fryers Street Shepparton