Goulburn Valley Water, GVW, has installed a new raw water standpipe in Broadford to help reduce dependence on treated water supplies and help drought-proof the Broadford region.
GVW managing director Steve Capewell said lower storage inflows and higher water use as a result of climate change were creating new pressures on the drinking water supply system.
He said the new standpipe would allow users to take water for projects like construction or roadworks, helping to divert additional water away from the treated water supply.
GVW also installed an upgraded potable water standpipe on the site as part of stage two of its ongoing standpipe upgrade project.
Dr Capewell said identifying alternate sources of water was a key part of securing the region’s water future.
“Creating access via new, alternative water sources will help with long-term management of sustainable water supplies and reduce dependence on treated, drinking water for uses where raw, untreated water is the better option,” he said.
“Installing a new, safer potable water standpipe at the same site will help improve access via the card system and make it easier and quicker for people to use.”
The new standpipe is a waist-level fill unit and replaces an older, less safe overhead-fill version. It also has credit card facilities, making it simpler and easier to access for customers and water carters than the previous paper account system.
The standpipes were relocated to a new site at the corner of Sunday Creek and Broadford-Wandong roads to improve safety and accessibility.
The new potable water standpipe is now operational. The old potable water standpipe was switched off on July 18. The new raw water standpipe will be operational from August 5.
For more information or for access to the new standpipes, people can visit www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/business/standpipes.
