What we're doing
What's in place?
Cotter Googong Bulk Transfer
In April 2005, ACTEW began work to implement the Cotter Googong Bulk Transfer program, an innovative way of utilising existing infrastructure to increase the ACT's water supply in the immediate future. The scheme is now operational.
ACTEW developed the scheme during its comprehensive study of Future Water Options that was completed in early 2005.
The scheme works by drawing water from the reservoirs in the Cotter Catchment, treating it at the Mt Stromlo treatment plant and, after meeting town demand, using the existing water supply distribution network to transfer surplus water to the Googong reservoir — up to 150 ML/d.
It is estimated that up to 12 gigalitres (GL) can be transferred each year from the higher yield Cotter catchment for storage at Googong, which, with a capacity to store up to 125 GL, has been running low due to increased use after drought and the 2003 bushfires.
Construction work involved building a bypass pipeline around the Googong water treatment plant. Further work to fully optimise the transfer system includes automation of the transfer control, refurbishing the Cotter pump station and augmenting the Stromlo water treatment plant.
The transfer will draw upon the water from the higher-yield Cotter Catchment to meet the demand of the city in the first instance. Any surplus water will then be transferred to the Googong Reservoir using the existing distribution network. So, the less water we use in the city, the more we can transfer to help fill up Googong. In the first two years of operation, despite drought conditions over 11 gigalitres (GL) was able to be transferred, the majority during the autumn and winter period of 2006.
For more information on this project, call ACTEW on (02) 6248 3111.