Water wallies
SOUTH Gippslanders seem to be overusing water, with the people of Korumburra to be on stage one water restrictions from tomorrow, January 31.
This is the first time any of South Gippsland Water’s (SGW) customers have been on restrictions since the drought ended in 2008.
Restrictions apply only to Korumburra – so far.
But SGW managing director, Philippe du Plessis, and his staff are keeping a keen eye on Leongatha’s Ruby Creek holding and restrictions are a possibility “in the medium term”.
He said Korumburra’s restrictions had been introduced because there had been a “significant drop” in the Coalition Creek
storage.
“It’s not a huge system – it’s quick empty, quick fill.
“We always take the conservative approach.”
The sustained dry weather and lack of prospect of reasonable rain have prompted the decision.
If those conditions continue, the restrictions could become more severe.
On Friday, Coalition Creek was at 66 per cent of capacity. Ruby Creek was at 71 per cent.
Mr du Plessis said SGW customers as a whole had continued their wise use of water introduced during the drought years, but the warm, dry weather has led to higher use, particularly for watering gardens and lawns.
Evaporation is an ongoing issue too.
Earlier this month, Mr du Plessis said one hot day had creamed three megalitres (three million litres) or more than an Olympic sized swimming pool from the big Lance Creek Reservoir just out of Wonthaggi. He added evaporation from smaller holdings is more rapid.
The restrictions mean watering systems for gardens and lawns can only be used between 6 and 10am and 6 to 10pm on alternate days. That means if your house has an even number, you can only water on even number days and odd numbers on odd numbered days.
Watering with a bucket or hand held hose with trigger nozzle is permitted any time. Hosing paving, concrete and hard surfaces is banned, except for construction, emergency, health or safety reasons. Vehicles must be washed with a bucket, high pressure cleaning device or commercial car wash.
There are additional restrictions with pools, spas, ponds, fountains and lakes. Details are at www.sgwater.com.au or ring 1300 851 636.
Mr du Plessis said all SWG storages were “very hardy” leading into December but that is waning.
“There is not a lot of rain anywhere and we always monitor the at risk storages.”
Leongatha and Fish Creek are among these.
Meanwhile, the authority’s five-year water plan is with the Essential Services Commission (ESC) for comment and/or approval.
Mr du Plessis said the usual process is for SGW to lodge a draft plan, the ESC releases its response in late February or early March, with a final decision due by the end of June.
The plan proposes capital expenditure of nearly $72 million and a total tariff increase over the five years of 9.3 per cent.
Of this, $28.6 million will be spent on the new Poowong/Loch/Nyora sewerage scheme, $6.1m on reticulation and sewer replacement and rehabilitation and $21.2m on what is termed the “Melbourne supply system connection” to Korumburra, Poowong, Loch and Nyora.
This is part of a long range scheme to decommission the storages in those towns which will be supplied by Lance Creek, backed by the Melbourne supply and desalinated
water.
Leongatha will eventually be hooked up too and the Ruby Creek reservoirs decommissioned.
Hopes for a $20m allocation from the 2012 state budget for the pipe were not realised.
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Posted by Simone Short on Jan 30 2013. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
