| Pipeline flows well despite poor rainfall |
| By Anthony Radford
Coliban Water’s reservoirs rising
THE Waranga-to-Lake Eppalock pipeline is proving its worth, despite poor rainfall across the region.
A dry spring has not stopped Coliban Water’s reservoirs rising to impressive levels.
Coliban managing director Geoff Michell said current water available to Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton was almost double that in reserve last year.
“At the moment, if you take in what is in our reservoirs and what we have available through the pipeline, we have about 30,000 megalitres in storage,” he said.
“That is about 22 per cent of our capacity.
“We are substantially better off than we were at the same time last year.
“Last year our levels were at about 17,000 megalitres, or 12 per cent of capacity.”
Mr Michell said the levels proved the decision to allow limited outside watering over summer was justified.
“We are almost double what we were this time last year which is fantastic,” he said.
“Our decision on restrictions was based on the worst-case scenario of no inflows.
“We are keeping an eye on water useage to see if it stays on or under our target figure of an average of 30 megalitres a day.
“At the moment we are just below that. We expect to achieve that target.”
Mr Michell said the Eppalock pipeline, plus the success of the recycled pipeline, was behind the increased water levels this year.
“However, we are still below where we were this time in 2005 and 2004,” he said.
Mr Michell said the pipeline all the way to Lake Eppalock was “99 per cent” finished.
“There are a few little tidy-up things happening at the moment,” he said.
“We are just bedding down all the operational arrangements.
“We are pumping about 50 ML a day to Sandhurst Reservoir, depending on how much air space there is.”
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