Coliban Water has installed two new water pumps at its Echuca Water Treatment Plant, as part of efforts to increase the town’s water security as the region heads into the peak of summer.
The two pumps have been installed in a repurposed well on the Coliban Water site and provide a back-up system for the two current pumps that currently serve the community.
As demand for water increases in the summer, Coliban Water said the new pumps will ensure there is a constant flow of untreated water into the plant that can be treated and turned into drinking water.
Coliban Water General Manager Operations, Julian Bull, said the new pumps were a further investment into strengthening the reliability of Echuca’s water supply.
“The installation of the new pumps, combined with the investment in the Echuca plant and community, mean customers have extra water security in time for summer,” Mr Bull said.
Recent investment at the Echuca plant has seen the completion of two 3.3ML water storage tanks, new high-lift pumps and a new ultraviolet water filtration system in 2023 as well as the current instalment of a new powdered activated carbon system to improve aesthetics of the treated water.
In Echuca West, two new 3ML tanks were installed in 2019 to support the growing population in that area.
“Flows over the summer peak period increase and there is now extra storage capacity at the treatment plant thanks to the new tanks,” Mr Bull said.
“These new pumps perform well as a secondary system. It doesn’t matter which pump system is running, our customers won’t notice the difference. It’s all the same product just more reliable, which is a big win.”
Mr Bull said Echuca’s untreated water quality will also benefit from works completed in 2024.
“Last year we also upgraded the foot valves and the water intakes at Echuca, which helps prevent large organic material being sucked up through the pumps,” he said.
Mr Bull said the works have increased the reliability of the Echuca’s system with Coliban Water continuing to invest in the Echuca service with $20 million approved in 2024 to continue to improve water quality and reliability of the system. These works will be started in the next few years.
Visit connect.coliban.com.au/echuca-wtp-upgrades-project for more information about the Echuca Water Treatment Plant.
Featured image: the new pump station building at the Echuca WTP. Image: Coliban Water
