North East Water

Water from Wodonga will flow through Chiltern taps for the first time this week as North East Water switches on its new $2.7 million pipeline.

The pipeline, which runs from the Logic Centre via Barnawartha, will supply Chiltern from the Murray River system, removing the town?s dependence on groundwater supplies.

North East Water?s Executive Manager Assets, Kevin Freeman, said the pipeline would secure Chiltern?s water supply for the future.

?The groundwater system has become increasingly unreliable over the past few years, with access to water from the springs completely drying up, and yields from the town bore have reduced to less than Chiltern?s daily demand,? he said.  

?As a result this has seen Chiltern placed on tight restrictions to ensure existing reserves can maintain critical supply.

?With the completion of this project, Chiltern will now be supplied from a far more secure source, enabling water restrictions to be eased in line with that experienced by our customers in Wodonga.?

Mr Freeman said the connection of the pipeline would also improve the quality of Chiltern?s water supply.

?Over recent years, as yields from the groundwater sources have fallen, we?ve seen taste and odour issues increase for Chiltern customers due to raised levels of iron and manganese,? he said.

?We look forward to the improvements for the Chiltern community when the pipeline is connected.?

Mr Freeman said Barnawartha was due to receive water from the pipeline later this year.

?We have fast-tracked the Chiltern supply because of the many issues of quantity and quality that have surrounded the Chiltern supply,? he said

?We will notify Barnawartha residents accordingly when they are due to come on line.?

North East Water?s Executive Manager Business Services, John Morris, said the pipeline connection would enable water restrictions to be reduced in Chiltern from Stage 4 to Stage 2, effective immediately.

He said Chiltern would also be receiving fluoride in the water supply, as Wodonga does, but that the level would be similar to the historical levels of naturally occurring fluoride in the Chiltern groundwater supply.

?In addition, we?ll be engaging with the Chiltern community over coming months to discuss options for the future management of the disused springs and how we might assist to develop them into an asset for the town,? he said.