Two water tankers will initially be used to deliver the first loads of potable water to Guyra today, after the NSW Government signed off on about $1 million worth of funding for the operation last week.
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Armidale Regional Council engaged Newcastle based SRH Milk Haulage to begin mobilising its vehicles for an operation that will eventually see four of its B-Double tankers used.
Armidale mayor Simon Murray said council had everything planned and was waiting for trucks capable of carrying food grade products, milk trucks, to arrive.
"They will be taking water from a big main in the industrial area, so it shouldn't cause any water disruption to Armidale residents. I doubt it will even be noticed," he said.
Council CEO Susan Law said SRH was an accomplished firm when it came to carting liquids, and had all the appropriate licences.
"They're an experienced milk haulage company, and as it's a slow period for dairy products, it has been convenient for us. We're still calculating the amount that is going to be necessary," she said.
"At the moment we're anticipating that the Guyra Dam will be empty by mid-July and the [Malpas] pipeline is not going to be completed by mid-August. So we're looking at hauling enough water to get us through that period.
"The delivery will be on a four truck configuration. Initially, we're going to involve two trucks, which means we will have a delivery of 1.2 megalitres."
Mrs Law said the use of two trucks to begin with would allow for any teething problems to be addressed.
"We want to ensure that the delivery capability and the travel times can also be confirmed," she said.
"We are providing for the delivery of 26 megalitres for the period right through until August 19, when the Guyra Dam levels will be critical, and we hope the pipeline can be commissioned."
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Mrs Law said council was given an indication by the Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, that funding was approved.
"We would hope that we would have the formal approval come through this week," she said.
"This funding just gets us through to when the pipeline can be commissioned.
"There are risks, of course. If there are any delays in that then we will have to go back and reconsider what we need to do."
Trucks will take about 45 minutes to fill. At Guyra, they will go to the Water Treatment Plant, where it will take another 45 minutes to empty the water into the outlet side of the plant.
It was calculated the trucks will take 45 minutes to empty, and then the water will be pumped up into the reservoir.
