COUNCIL has blamed contractors for an unprecedented water failure which has resulted in Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal having restrictions ratcheted-up to level three immediately.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three motors in the Peel River pump station were flooded after the “main suction line” from the river was broken at some point on Wednesday morning, putting the whole station out-of-action.
Tamworth Regional Council water director Bruce Logan asked residents to go above and beyond level three guidelines urging the affected communities to not use any water outdoors for the next few days, or run the risk of copping an on-the-spot fine.
Read more:
According to council’s drought management plan residents can use “handheld hoses for 15 minutes” outdoors within designated two-hour windows, under level three restrictions.
But Mr Logan asked “people who are connected to reticulated water in Tamworth and Moonbi-Kootingal to not use water outdoors for at least the next few days.”
“If we can do that, than we will be able to supply the demand for residential and commercial users and we’ll be fine relatively speaking,” he said.
“But we just need people to curtail using water outdoors for the next few days.”
Mr Logan said it was the first time a failure of this kind had occurred at the station which was built in 1981.
“There’s three pumps and motors in there and this morning, a contractor who we’d engaged to remove one of the pumps to refurbish it appears to have broken the main suction line from the Peel River into that well where the pump was located,” he said.
“That means the Peel River pump station is out-of-action and without that supply we can’t continue to supply the level of demand that Tamworth and Moonbi-Kootingal have been using over the last three or four months.”
Mr Logan couldn’t estimate how long it would take to repair the pump station, but he said it would cost “a significant amount of money”.
One motor was salvaged before it was completely submerged, but the remaining two had to be sent away to be dried-out.”
It’s hoped Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal will return to permanent water conservation measures within one week.
“When we get it out we’ll be able to see just what the nature of the break is, hopefully it’s not a significant problem and we’ll be able to get it prepared relatively quickly,” Mr Logan said.
“I’m saying within seven days.”
Level three water restriction rules:
- All use of sprinklers is banned – including sprinklers, sprays, microjet sprays, fixed hoses and subsurface dripper systems.
- Handheld hoses for 15 minutes only per property within the two hour window of 5pm and 7pm or 6pm to 8pm Daylight Saving Time.
- No washdown of hard surfaces outdoors, including pressure cleaners.
- Pools can be filled during 15 minutes of allowed hose time.
- Irrigation of Council’s Category 1 and 2 parks, gardens, reserves and playing fields continues in accordance with the Drought Management Plan.
- All previously issued New Turf Water Management Plans are now null and void.
- Recycled, greywater and rainwater can be used. Rainwater tanks can only be approved by Council and a sign issued if they are stand-alone and not able to be switched to the treated supply.
- Buckets and watering cans can be used within the two hour window without limitation.