Raise a glass to water security

A NEW $5 million water reservoir in Clermont aims to improve the quality and security of drinking water for locals.
The reservoir is the latest development in Isaac Regional Council’s ongoing Water Quality Response Plan, designed to address ongoing issues with the quality of drinking water in Clermont.
Council acknowledged in the plan that the region’s communities had experienced ongoing issues in relation to water supply.
Council said they are committed to delivering long-term solutions to the issue.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said more than 80 per cent of the regional water budget – equating to approximately $4.9 million – will go to projects benefitting Clermont.
“In relatively dry inland areas like much of the Isaac, with limited natural water assets, meeting the water needs of our towns – and Clermont in particular – has traditionally been a challenge,” Cr Baker said.
“However, keeping Isaac residents’ taps flowing with top-quality water remains a high priority and will see spending of $5.9 million in the current 2020-21 Council budget.
“The spending is part of Clermont’s Water Quality Response Plan, an ongoing program to improve the quality and security of the town’s drinking water.”
According to the plan, between November 16 and 29, 2018, Clermont residents experienced water discolouration associated with high turbidity influent water from Theresa Creek Dam.
Occurring after a long dry period, a large inflow of water into the dam coincided with a failure of an alum closing pump that was automatically operating outside of hours.
A further discoloration event occurred in February 2020 when a heavy in-fall of rain caused a rapid filling of Theresa Creek Dam after another long dry period.
This led to a discolouration of the water associated with a failure to remove or stabilise iron and manganese during the treatment process.
The treatment method was adjusted to produce clear water, but some locals were affected up until early March 2020.
Cr Baker said the new five-megalitre reservoir in Clermont had cost $2 million.
An additional $1.39 million is being spent replacing water mains in Lime and East streets, with a further $1 million allocated towards de-silting the raw water structure at Theresa Creek Dam.
“Along with the existing three megalitre reservoirs on the same site, and refurbishment of the 1.4 megalitre Capricorn street reservoir, this new give megalitre reservoir will take total secure water in the Clermont network to almost 10 megalitres,” Cr Baker said.
“This means we will have a minimum of three days’ supply of clean, clear drinking water stored at any one time, ready to provide to residents in Clermont and the surrounding area should there be an event like discoloured water coming from Theresa Creek Dam after heavy rain.
“In that case, water can be supplied from these reservoirs while the raw water from Theresa Creek Dam is given extra treatment to clear it up.”
Cr Baker said that although the reservoir is currently active, it would be officially opened within the coming weeks.