WATER destined for communities in the Tamworth region is set to gush through a brand new $1.45 million pipeline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a successful pressure test on Tuesday and a flush of chlorinated water for disinfection on Wednesday, the pipe is ready to come online just six weeks after the project started.
In a first-time move for Tamworth Regional Council (TRC), the old pipeline that was in place near Armidale Road originally, was used as a "host" for the new one.
READ ALSO:
A slightly smaller polyethylene pipe was dragged through the existing line, and TRC water and waste director Bruce Logan said he was pleased with the outcome.
"Normally we would need to construct a new pipeline, adjacent to the old one ... but that would be problematic in this case because it's near a highway, it's two kilometres long, and there's not much room on the footpath," he said.
"We had to do modelling to make sure we could still provide all the water that's required to those locations with a smaller diameter pipe, thankfully that was the case so away we went and it's worked well."
The old pipeline had not been delivering water to Nemingha, Moonbi and Kootingal while water restrictions were so severe. But, that's now changing.
"Assuming restrictions relax and in the summertime we'll need the pipeline back in service," Mr Logan said.
The chlorinated water used to disinfect the pipe was recycled by carting it to Scully Park pool.