Tasmania’s Huon Valley will have access to a higher quality and more reliable water supply as water from Southern Water’s $30m Huon Valley Regional Water Scheme starts flowing to more than 12,000 people.
The Scheme – which has been southern Tasmania’s largest water supply project – was officially opened by Southern Water Chairman Miles Hampton, Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, and Huon Valley Mayor Robert Armstrong.
It incorporates a new 9 million litre (ML) per day Water Treatment Plant and 3ML water storage at Glen Huon, a 3.5ML reservoir at Geeveston, a 2.5ML reservoir at Balfes Hill, a new pump station at Franklin and over 42km of new pipelines – as well as existing assets now linked to the system. The Glen Huon Water Treatment Plant can now supply a total of 13 million litres of treated water per day to customers in the Huon Valley.
Mr Hampton said that the scheme’s completion means that around 12,000 people in the Huon Valley receive a much more reliable water supply which meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“This scheme was designed to address a situation where many Huon Valley residents were receiving either untreated water or water from sources which are susceptible to significant fluctuations in water quality,” Mr Hampton said.
“Its completion means that all main population centres in the Huon Valley have potable water from a single and sustainable source, the Huon River. It also means improved environmental outcomes as it allows greater flows to be maintained in previously stressed catchments.”
Initial work on the scheme was undertaken by the Huon Valley Council, prior to Southern Water being formed and taking over responsibility for the project in July 2009.
This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative through the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program.
