Spring Ridge’s water supply will undergo an upgrade to increase pressure and supply.
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Mayor Andrew Hope said Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) was undertaking the pumped pressure upgrade because “the system currently only provides minimum standards for water pressure” and the flow is at a “minimum standard” for firefighters to utilise.
The council has budgeted $850,000 for the project and has engaged Hunter H2O to develop the design. A draft concept design has already been presented to the council.
“The key objectives of this project are the provision of acceptable pressure to consumers, capacity to ensure fire flow rates to consumers and capacity to handle foreseeable system growth,” Cr Hope said.
Cr Hope said the current system was established in 1967 and comprises two reservoirs and a reticulation system, and two bores, only one of which is in use.
The new pump station will be established in the vicinity of the Goran Lake and Coonabarabran Road intersection.
“It will provide a flexible solution that allows onsite adjustments of the pressure range, which will be important in preventing mains breaks of the old reticulation pipe system, which will need to cope with the higher pressure envisaged,” Cr Hope said.
“We are also assessing alternative energy options to run the pump station during the day and whether future application of solar power is feasible.”
The council has also been investigating options to improve water quality because the groundwater source’s location causes elevated levels of hardness, sodium and chloride, making it unpleasant to drink.
“Unfortunately, our studies have found there are no new options available to cost-effectively improve the levels of hardness and dissolved solids,” Cr Hope said.
“It is estimated we would require an extra $1.9 million for water treatment options and this estimate does not include land acquisitions that would be necessary to build evaporation ponds to handle brine solutions generated by such a treatment process.
“If, at a later date water treatment options are to be further considered, council would instigate a full community consultation process to measure support and to explain the implications for water pricing into the future.”