Drought contingency measures

ACTEW is also looking at measures that can be implemented quickly to ease the burden of the current drought, for example:

Improved access to recycled water

• Recycled water available during restrictions
• North Canberra Water Reuse Scheme (NCWRS)
  The expansion of the Fyshwick Sewage Treatment Plant to provide greater access to non-potable water during drought. More information on the current scheme can be found here.

Increasing capacity of Cotter pumping station

ACTEW has already significantly enhanced the ACT and Queanbeyan water supply system by constructing the Cotter to Googong Bulk Transfer and by adding the Murrumbidgee River to the system. Work continues on optimising the amount of water that can be supplied from these sources, with projects underway to increase the pumping capacity and the capability to treat this water with a wider range of water quality conditions. This work will allow us to supply more water from the Cotter and Murrumbidgee more often.

Increasing capacity of Murrumbidgee pumping station

Murrumbidgee pump station was constructed in 2004 as a drought contingency measure. Water is transferred to the Cotter pump station, where it is pumped again to the Mt Stromlo Water Treatment Plant. Its capacity is 40 ML/day with two Cotter pumps operating.

ActewAGL have identified a project to improve the supply and reliability from the Murrumbidgee pump station during the drought. Installation of a rock weir within the river would assist to minimise flow turbulence and debris build up at the inlet of the structure. The project would also include improvements to the operational configuration. Planning for this work has commenced.