New water supply for Avoca in the pipeline

The town of Avoca in the Fingal Valley is set to receive fully treated drinking water as a result of TasWater’s plan to build a 29km pipeline from nearby Fingal.

TasWater’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Brewster said that construction is scheduled for later this year with water flowing by the end of 2016, ending the townships Do Not Consume alert.

Until now Avoca has mainly drawn its water from the South Esk River but following the detection of Cadmium and Lead in the water in excess of acceptable levels, the town supply has been subject to a Do Not Consume notice.

“Several alternatives were considered, including bore water, collecting rain water at individual properties or carting water by road to replenish the town’s reservoir,” Mr Brewster said.

“Our assessment indicated that building a pipeline which brings water from the new water treatment plant at Fingal is the most sustainable long term option.”

Mr Brewster says the new treatment plant also has more than enough capacity to meet the needs of both towns.

The pipeline will be constructed mainly along existing road side easements, feeding fully treated water into the local Avoca Reservoir which will comply with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The town’s existing chlorination system will be retained to boost chlorination levels in the water arriving from Fingal.

The existing reservoir in Avoca will provide enough storage to meet peak demand while the pipeline itself will be designed in a way to minimises the risk of damage and interrupting the supply between Fingal and Avoca.

TasWater is proposing to spend in excess of a $100 million each year for the next three years improving water and sewerage infrastructure across Tasmania and has committed to reducing the number of communities which need to boil their water or cannot consume their water from 27 down to eight by 2018.
Simon Pilkington, TasWater