Water Supply Information

Published 10th August 2023

WATER SUPPLY INFORMATION

We want to keep you informed about recent issues with our water supply. You might have noticed discolored water and air bubbles in your taps recently. We understand how concerning this can be, and we're here to explain what's happening.

Over the past few months, we have been experiencing intermittent problems with our main water pumps. These pumps are responsible for supplying water to the entire town. The issue is that the pumps have been shutting down unexpectedly due to a glitch in the pump system. Before shutting down, there is only a two-minute warning, making it hard to anticipate and manage.

Our dedicated water team has been working tirelessly to identify the root cause of this problem. However, due to its sporadic and unpredictable nature, collecting the necessary data during shutdown events has been a challenge. We have recently made progress in identifying the issue as false readings from an electronic device called a magflow meter and a programming hiccup in the pump control system.
These false readings trick the system into thinking there is no water flow, which triggers the pumps to shut down as a precautionary measure. However, there is actually no problem with the water supply. To address this, we are implementing a fix in the current programming to prevent unnecessary shutdowns tomorrow morning when the technician is available to perform the work required.

Additionally, we have noticed that the blue container Booster Station continues to operate even when the main pumps are shutting down. This is causing a supply problem for the blue container, as it's trying to pump water without sufficient supply, leading to air getting into the pipeline. To tackle this, we will be setting up a communication link between the container and our desalination plant.

You may also notice areas around town that have 'leaks with high flow' on days where the water has had issues - please be informed that these are sections of pipe used to bleed air and discoloured water from the mains lines. If you are concerned about any leakages, please do not hesitate to inform us on 08 8672 4600.

We genuinely appreciate your understanding and patience as we work diligently to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience you have experienced. Our team is actively addressing these problems using available on-site resources and will promptly source any needed materials.

Your support means a lot to us, and we are committed to ensuring a reliable water supply for our community. Stay tuned for further updates, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you for your cooperation,

David Kelly
Chief Executive Officer