Town water is now flowing to Salt Ash Public School and streets throughout the Williamtown investigation area as the water supply project reaches its final stages.
The project was first announced by the NSW Government in December 2015.
Hunter Water has since designed and constructed a reticulated water network in the Investigation Area allowing almost 200 properties access to safe drinking water from its system.
With the water supply infrastructure completed as scheduled in June 2017, Hunter Water has since worked on behalf of the Department of Defence with individual property owners to project manage domestic plumbing works required to connect to the new system.
Managing Director of Hunter Water, Jim Bentley, said he was pleased some relief had arrived for residents in the area.
“Providing drinking water to the Williamtown investigation area has been a priority project for Hunter Water since it was first announced by the NSW Government, and we’re pleased to see our high quality, safe drinking water available to residents, and the students at Salt Ash Public School, for the first time.
“Hunter Water has consulted with each property owner to determine their personal needs when it comes to the style of connection at their property. Everyone has different requirements that we’ve worked to meet, for example while some residents have the connection plumbed directly to their homes, others have opted to simply have a town water tap installed in the front yard.
“With more properties connecting each day, we’re expecting all those who have opted to join the system to be connected by Christmas. We’re pleased to provide Williamtown residents with high quality drinking water into the future,” he said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, said the water supply project was a direct outcome of listening to the local community.
“Williamtown residents have had their lives turned upside down, and many have been relying on bottled water for drinking after they learnt their tanks and bores may be contaminated.
“The consistent advice the NSW Government has received is that the most effective and immediate way to support the community in the Investigation Area is to remove the main risk pathway, which is ingesting groundwater. Connecting impacted residents to safe reticulated water supplied by Hunter Water is a critical response by the NSW Government.
“While we know this hasn’t solved all the problems in Williamtown, we hope there is some relief that comes from having ready access to safe drinking water straight to the tap.
“Hunter Water has done a great job in delivering a water supply to the Williamtown community, and I commend the Commonwealth Government for stepping in to fund the project.”
