BARRABA town water users will get their brand spanking new water from Split Rock Dam today – but it could be dirty, smelly and even yucky at first.
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The new $15.2 million pipeline supply will deliver a new generation in flow but initial warnings from water experts are that the first drops mightn’t be as sparkling as they’d expect straight away.
The first water from the dam along the 27.2km pipeline is expected to arrive in household taps later today after a week of tests and service trials.
Tamworth Regional Council water director Bruce Logan said they’ll flick the switch for the changeover from 11am and the new water world will begin shortly after.
But Mr Logan has warned there might be an “initial minor adverse impact”.
“When you mix water from different sources there can be a reaction which may result in water which is slightly cloudy, has a slightly different taste or a slight odour,” he said.
He said there was no cause for alarm and it should settle down soon after.
The pumps have been putting dam water into the system for the past few days so there will be no sudden change or difference in the quality of the new dam water compared to the water that has come from either the Manilla River or Barraba Creek in the past.