Detergents | Water Services | Reading Your Meter | Checking for Leaks
In the Home | Outdoors and in the Garden | In the Workplace | Rebate Incentive Scheme
Water Supply Strategy/Off River Storage
Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) | Drought Management Plan
The Nambucca Shire Water Supply System currently serves the towns of Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Bowraville, Scotts Head, Valla Beach and Hyland Park as well as some rural properties along the route of the trunk mains. The number of properties connected to the system is about 6500 serving a population of approximately 15,600.
Water is drawn from an aquifer (in this case a water charged deposit of alluvial gravel), through bores which are located beside the Nambucca River to the north of Bowraville. The gravel beds provide natural filtration of the water and only minimal treatment is required to reach drinking water standards.
There are currently 10 bores within the borefield supplying water to Councils water system. These are currently set up in 3 banks which are operated as the demand requires.
7 of the bores have a capacity around 30 litres per second while 3 bores have a capacity around 50 litres per second.
Each bore is approximately 12 metres deep with a diameter of 250 mm.
The aquifer has a small storage capacity estimated to be in the order of 300 mega litres of accessible water and this may vary depending on the flow in the nearby Nambucca River.
Headworks
Council's headworks facility consists of 2 collection tanks 2 pump stations, a valve cluster and infrastructure to store and dose water teratment chemicals.
Raw water is pumped from the bores into either or both of the collection tanks. One tank is a rainwater tank holding water that will be pumped to an off river storage via the raw water pump station and transfer mains. The other tank holds water that will be treated and distributed to the town supply system utilising the other pump station.
The raw water is naturally filtered as it flows through the gravel deposits in the aquifer, however it is treated with the addition of chlorine, lime, fluoride and carbon dioxide before it is distributed to consumers.
Chlorine is added to disinfect the supply by killing any harmful bacteria. Lime is injected into the supply to adjust the calcium hardness of the water as the natural supply is “soft” and causes corrosion in copper pipelines. Fluoride is added to reduce dental decay, particularly in children in accordance with NSW Health requirements. The Carbon Dioxide gas has been added to readjust the pH of the water back to neutral levels following the addition of the lime.
Once treated the water is pumped to a pair of balance tanks which are located on high ground to the east of Bowraville. From this location and elevation the water is able to be gravity fed to all reservoirs in the Shire.
Off River Storage
Council has recently constructed an off river storage to secure the shire water supply during times of drought.
The storage is an earth embankment dam with a capacity of 5,000ML. During periods of other than low flow in the Nambucca River water can be extraced by the bores and transfered to the dam utilising the new raw water collection tank and pump station via a 500mm diameter transfer pipline. Water can be transfered at a rate of up to 300 L/sec.
Further information on the off river storage and its construction can be found here.
The delivery pipe work is known as the trunk main network. The size and length varies as follows:
|
From |
To |
Size (mm) |
Length (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Headworks |
Balance Tanks |
450 |
2.8 |
|
Bellingen Rd |
Bowraville Reservoir |
150 |
1.8 |
|
Balance Tanks |
Wirrimbi Junction |
2 x 450 |
6.1 |
|
Wirrimbi Junction |
Macksville South Reservoir |
300 |
7.9 |
|
Macksville South Reservoir |
Scotts Head |
200 |
8.3 |
|
Macksville South Reservoir |
Macksville |
200 |
1.6 |
|
Wirrimbi Junction |
Siding Road |
375 |
3.4 |
|
Siding Road |
Nambucca Heads |
375 |
4.9 |
|
Siding Road |
Kingsworth |
200 |
1.9 |
|
Nambucca Heads |
Valla Beach (via Hyland Park) |
300 |
6.5 |
|
Nambucca Heads |
Valla Beach |
150 |
6.7 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
51.9 |
The bulk supply to each town is separately metered. Booster pumps in Macksville can be used to increase supply to Scotts Head during periods of peak demand.
|
|
Reservoirs
The role of the reservoirs is to deliver uniform pressure and to provide a reserve of water during periods of high demand or if a break occurs to the pipe network. In most cases the reservoirs hold one (1) day’s peak water demand for its service area.
The number and capacities of the reservoirs are:
| Description | Number | Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Balance Tanks |
(2) |
0.45 and 1.0 megalitres |
|
Bowraville |
(1) |
1.3 megalitres |
|
Macksville |
(2) |
1.3, and 2.9 megalitres |
|
Macksville South |
(1) |
1.8 megalitres |
|
Scotts Head |
(1) |
1.4 megalitres |
|
Nambucca Heads |
(3) |
8.0, 1.1, and 1.3 megalitres |
|
Valla Beach |
(1) |
2.0 megalitres |
|
Kingsworth |
(1) |
0.7 megalitres |
This provides a total storage of 23.25 megalitres within reservoirs.
The distribution of water from the reservoirs occurs through smaller pipelines known as reticulation mains. The typical size of these mains is from 100mm to 200mm in diameter. They are generally laid in footpaths and roads.
A service connection is then provided from the main to the property. The service pipe is normally made of copper with a diameter of 20 or 25mm. A water meter is installed at the end of the service to register the water usage within the property.
The quantity of water used varies greatly over the years, over the time of the year and during the day. A typical household will use just over 400 litres of water each day.
Generally, there has been a downward trend in annual water consumption since the introduction in the early 1990’s of metering and pay for use. Communities are also more water conscious and there is less wasted use of water.
The yearly consumption has varied from a high of 3,250 megalitres in 1991 to current levels of around 1500 kL/annum.
| Year | Total Megalitres |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2596 |
| 1991 | 3250 |
| 1992 | 2431 |
| 1993 | 2353 |
| 1994 | 2225 |
| 1995 | 2036 |
| 1996 | 1886 |
| 1997 | 1940 |
| 1998 | 1781 |
| 1999 | 1686 |
| 2000 | 1804 |
| 2001 | 1935 |
| 2002 | 1925 |
| 2003 | 1698 |
| 2004 | 1785 |
| 2005 | 1717 |
| 2006 | 1736 |
| 2007 | 1799 |
| 2008 | 1583 |
| 2009 | 1613 |
| 2010 | 1582 |
| 2011 | 1508 |
| 2012 | 1549 |
| 2013 | 1531 |
| 2014 | 1470 |
| 2015 | 1495 |
There are many types of detergents available for todays consumer. Selecting the right detergent for your washing machine and situation will not only ensure that you get the best cleaning result but can also assist in doing your bit for the environment.
Many detergents contain high levels of salt and phosphorous which impact adversely on the environment and add significantly to the cost of treating sewage water to a level suitable for discharge to the environment. Phosphorous can lead to excessive growth of blue green algae in inland waterways.
Selecting detergents with low levels of salt and low levels or no phosphorous an help reduce treatment costs and limit our impact on the enviornment.
CHOICE has carried out a study on laundry detergents and this information is available to you by clicking on the link below:
Households are connected to Council’s water main by way of a copper pipe, called a water service. This extends into your property and a shut off valve and water meter are connected near the boundary. Council is responsible for the service up to and including the meter. From the meter into the property it is the owner’s responsibility.
|
|
Should a problem occur with Council’s water service or meter, please contact Council on 6568 0230 during working hours. For after hours emergencies please call 0417 285 269.
Council has installed various types of water meters since they were first introduced in 1991. Most have four or five dials with black numbers and three or four dials with red numbers. The black numbers are kilolitres (1000 litres), the red numbers in parts of kilolitres. An example is shown below:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|
The reading is 12,345 kilolitres 678 litres.
There are two ways of checking your meter which may help you detect leaks within your water system:
If any of the dials revolve, you may have a leak.
If you detect a leak, it is recommended you contact a licensed plumber and arrange repairs.
In the Bathroom
In the Kitchen
When peeling or cleaning vegetables, rinse them in a plugged sink.
In the Laundry
A front loading washing machine is more water and detergent efficient than top loading models
Every person uses about 150 litres per day of potable water in workplace environments. That is about 16 buckets per person per day.
Most of the water used in factories, commercial buildings, education institutions and other workplaces goes in air conditioning, food processing and manufacturing processes. A significant portion used for cleaning, food and drink preparation, gardening, and in toilets and washrooms.
We all have a community responsibility to use water carefully in the workplace by adopting water efficient practices, and ensuring that work processes do not waste water.
The following product library link will provide you with plenty of information to find the right product to save money on water for your home, garden or business.
Council reimburses some costs for the installation of water saving devices. Details are:-
Eligibility
How to make a claim:
The claimant shall complete the application form (available from the Administration Centre at 44 Princess Street, Macksville, the Works Depot 20 Gumma Road (off River Street) Macksville or from Council’s website at www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au.
Please submit the following to the Storeman or Water and Sewerage Supervisor at the Works Depot, 20 Gumma Road (off River Street) Macksville:
Details will be recorded and checked to ensure compliance. If satisfactory, a reimbursement will be approved and payment by cheque will be forwarded to the applicant at the address shown on the application form.
Current Restriction Level is set to WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.
Council adopted an amended water supply policy on 26 November 2015. The policy includes a simplified water restriction table that is proposed to be common to all NSW North Coast Councils. Residents are requested to conserve water and the table includes a water conservation mesaure that is in force at all times.
All water usage and associated activities must not cause pollution as defined under the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) Act 1997.
You are advised that Section 637 of the Local Government Act 1993 allows for penalties of up to $2200 for any person who wilfully or negligently wastes or misuses water from a public water supply, or causes such water to be wasted.
Council has designated field officers for the purpose of detecting breaches of the current water restrictions and intends to take legal action against any persons involved in such breaches.
For a first offence - $220 For second and subsequent offences - $2200
Definitions:
Fixed hoses include sprinklers, sprays, irrigation systems and unattended hoses.
Buckets relate to buckets, watering cans or the like filled directly from a tap not via a hose.
Motor vehicles include cars, utilities, trucks, motor bikes, trailers, caravans & the like.
Boats include all forms of marine craft and also refers to washing and flushing motors.
‘Odds and evens’ relates to the street number matching the day of the month (ie water usage is permitted in properties with an even number on even days of the month, odd numbers on odd days)
* Apply to Council for times
After the droughts of 1991 and 1992, Council became aware of the need to examine the security of the Water Supply Scheme and completed the 1994 Strategy Report. This study concluded that additional security was needed and that in addition to demand management measures such as user pays pricing, an off-river storage would be the best option to meet the security shortfall and allow for environmental flows in the Nambucca River to be maintained.
Based on the above studies and community feedback, Council implemented a number of demand management measures with success and was also progressing with the implementation activities associated with the off-river storage which was to be located about 2kms north of Bowraville. In 1999 MIDCO scaled down its operation, and as it consumed about 20% of the total annual supply, a review of the impact was undertaken. The results indicated that the existing headworks, based on the existing extraction licence conditions, was adequate to meet average annual demands up to year 2020.
During the extended drought of 2002/2003, increased levels of water restrictions were applied and the existing regular supply came close to failure prompting Council to activate the drought emergency response strategy. The rains in late January 2003 eased the situation and Council in conjunction with the Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) commissioned a study to review the security requirements based on information obtained during the drought.
This review was completed by the Department of Commerce and concluded that the Nambucca Water Supply Scheme is highly vulnerable to droughts and additional security was needed as soon as possible (with planning for the additional security commencing immediately).
The objective is to provide Shire residents and businesses with an acceptable level of drought security and to secure the current and future sustainability of the aquatic ecology and the river dependent industry.
Construction of the Off River Storage was completed in October 2014 and the storage is currently being filled. Further information on the off river storage and its construction can be found here.
IWCM (Integrated Water Cycle Management) is a way for Council to manage its water systems to maximise benefits to the community and environment. It involves the integration of water supply, sewerage and stormwater, so that water is used optimally within a catchment resource, state and national policy context.
IWCM deals effectively with complex linkages between different elements of the urban water cycle, both within the urban area and between the urban area and its water related catchment.
Integrated systems often rely less on natural water sources as more benefit is made of water already being used through demand management, effluent reuse and stormwater use. IWCM also involves improved communication and sharing with other water users and managers. In particular, communication with the local Catchment Management Authority is crucial to achieve integration with planning in the surrounding catchment.
IWCM adopts the following 5 basic principles:
These 5 principles are used to achieve the following three IWCM objectives:
The IWCM Strategy Report has now been completed and can be viewed on Council’s website by clicking on the following link:
During the 2002/2003 drought Council arranged the preparation of a Drought Management Plan. This document outlines:-
The drought management strategy is considered to entail a significant level of risk. Its purpose is to serve as a management tool whilst Council is in the process of taking action to make provision for a secure water supply.
Download the Drought Management Plan Executive Summary.
