It has been 60 years since the Great Southern region first benefited from a secure water supply scheme, providing reliable water supply to 44 towns and rural properties.
Water Corporation Great Southern Regional Manager, Adrian Stewart, said the delivery of a reliable water supply has also contributed to the establishment and growth of many thriving communities.
“A secure water supply is central to many regional communities. It was back then in 1958, and still continues to be so to this day,” Mr Stewart said.
“One of the main drivers of the Great Southern Towns Water Supply Scheme (GSTWSS) was the need to provide the region with a more reliable water supply in the drier, hotter months.”
Mr Stewart said Water Corporation continuously improved the scheme to keep pace with increasing demand for water in the region as the population grew.
“Sixty years on and we have changed a lot within the scheme to ensure the water we supply continues to be high quality and reliable in the face of climate change,” Mr Stewart said.
In 1992, the Harris River Dam was built in Collie and became the primary source of water supplying the GSTWSS, which is still the case today. Water is pumped through 3240km of water mains through 17 pump stations located around the region.
More recently, work was completed on an 8km pipeline to connect the Harris River Dam to the state’s largest scheme – the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS) – so water can be supplemented from the IWSS when needed.
