Coliban Water will invest more than $15 million on water and wastewater upgrades in the Echuca region over the next four years, including a new water pump station and network booster pumps.
Coliban Water Chairperson, Lucy Roffey, announced the funding commitment, which will be spent on a range of projects to meet the growing needs of residential, commercial and industrial customers in the region.
“The highlight of this funding will be a $9 million upgrade to Echuca’s Water Treatment Plant to improve capacity, storage and disinfection,” Ms Roffey said.
“The project will increase the town’s security of supply and ability to meet growing demands through the construction of two additional 3.3 megalitre treated water storage tanks. Combined, this is the equivalent volume of 2.6 olympic-size swimming pools.
“It will also see construction of a new treated water pump station and a UV disinfection system at the plant,” Ms Roffey said.
Approximately $3.7 million of the funding will be spent on new water storage tanks for Echuca West on Wilkinson Drive and network booster pumps.
Site works are expected to start in early 2020 and be completed in 2022.
“This project will help us address the significant growth that has occurred in Echuca West and ensure that we can continue to supply adequate water pressure to these households. The extra pumps will help to accommodate this growth and provide additional security of supply for our customers.”
In regards to wastewater improvements, new sewer odour mitigation systems will be installed at Anstruther Street and Terricks Road at existing sewer pump stations in those locations.
The remainder of the funding will be spent on a number of smaller projects which include valve replacements at the Echuca Water Treatment Plant which will occur prior to the plant’s upgrade project, pump refurbishment for the transfer of Echuca’s raw water, annual water main renewals, planned maintenance works on the Echuca Water Tower and the replacement of sewer pumps at two locations.
“The replacement of these sewer pumps is part of an ongoing renewals program to help ensure future reliability and efficiency for our customers,” Ms Roffey said.