Council Water Restrictions and Future Plans

TONIGHT Upper Hunter Shire Council voted to remain on the current water restrictions as they undertake technical measures to protect the security of the water supply in Aberdeen, Murrurundi and Scone.

Murrurundi and Aberdeen will retain level two water restrictions and Merriwa and Cassilis will remain on level one.

Council has secured more than $1.4 million in funding for a $2.25 million project for UV disinfection and additional chlorination and fluoride treatment of Glenbawn Dam, which still has an Amber Alert for algae.

The chlorination project will soon go to a Design and Construct Tender and will accompany a second upgrade project worth $320,000. 

New pumps, electrics, pipework and intake screens are being prepared for a second project, which will allow Council to draw directly from the Glenbawn Dam.

Council also plans to implement a combined water treatment plant with neighbouring shire Muswellbrook, to combat the ongoing water quality issues in the Glenbawn Dam catchment, which led to the boil water alert for Scone, Murrurundi and Aberdeen earlier this year.

Additionally, a  ‘Drinking Water Quality Risk Assessment Workshop’ run by Atom Consulting will be held in December, featuring representatives from Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), NSW Health, WaterNSW, Hunter H2O and Public Works Advisory (PWA).

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Maurice Collison asked residents to continue to be water-wise through summer.

“While good rain is forecast, don’t be complacent, Cr Collison said.

“Even before recent rains, residents have been doing really well, with water consumption in most towns dropping around 20% compared to last year,” he said.

“Since the pipeline to Murrurundi was completed in May 2020, ending years of high restrictions, the town is using more water but not a lot more,” Cr Collison said.

For more information about water restrictions, click here.