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Westernport Water seeks OK for back-up bore WESTERNPORT Water is seeking permission from Southern Rural Water to extract up to 2000 megalitres of groundwater annually from its new Corinella bore field. By Susan Webster - 3rd March 2008 - Back to News The water corporation expects to use the extraction licence as a safety net against low rainfall.
Westernport Water Managing Director David Mawer said: "It will be our dry-year back-up.
"Climate change requires a range of responses, and we are investing in this alternative source of water to improve our ability to provide an ongoing supply.
"The past two years have highlighted the impact of decreasing average rainfalls. Last year’s critical water storage levels proved that we had to look beyond year-to-year rainfall for our water. "We need a range of options to ensure there will be enough water for the region every year."
The water corporation plans to boost the level of Candowie Reservoir by pumping the bore water to the reservoir via its newly completed pipeline from Corinella to Grantville.
The system would help keep the reservoir levels up during periods of long drought, such as in 2006/07, Mr Mawer explained.
"If we have a dry winter and spring, and if the storage level of Candowie is below average levels, we will be able to pump ground water. It would act as a safety net. It broadens our options because groundwater is less directly rainfall-dependent.
"However, our main focus remains on capturing, storing and using rainfall and surface waters," he said.
The proposal follows the successful augmentation of supply over winter by pumping excess storm flows from the Bass River. Westernport Water was able to boost its storage volume by pumping less than 3% of the river’s winter flows over the period July to October 2007.
"We imagine the use of the back-up bore will be of a similar nature," Mr Mawer said.
Why apply for a licence now, when it is a dry-year back-up?
"We need the ability to respond to an extraordinary situation, like the 2006 drought," he said. "It means we will have the permissions and infrastructure in place if needed.
"When you have the responsibility of maintaining an essential service to the community, you simply cannot take a chance that it will rain in the near future; you need a contingency plan ready."
Southern Rural Water is responsible for allocating rural groundwater licences. It will assess Westernport Water’s application, which incorporates a detailed scientific analysis on how the bore field interacts within the Corinella aquifer, the potential impact on other bore users in the area and a determination of what is a sustainable volume to extract.
"We would expect to have to comply with conditions under any licence," Mr Mawer said. "These might require us to constantly monitor and report on groundwater levels and quality.
"We are very aware of our responsibility to undertake this. We need to ensure volumes extracted are sustainable for both present and future users of the resource."
Beyond the bore licence, Westernport Water plans to double the storage capacity of Candowie Reservoir, with $14m budgeted in 2010/11 to raise the reservoir wall embankment.
The increased storage capacity will not only hold nearly two years supply of water, it can also take advantage of capturing infrequent heavy rainfall events – something that climate experts are predicting will happen more frequently.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: susanw@ptarmigan.com.au
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