Clarence, Richmond Valley councils two of 12 in WaterNSW partnership to monitor drinking water quality

WaterNSW is partnering with a dozen of councils across regional NSW to better monitor drinking water as some residents complain of dirty, discoloured and even smelly water from the tap.

A water sample being collected.

WaterNSW is partnering with a dozen of councils across regional NSW to better monitor drinking water as some residents complain of dirty, discoloured and even smelly water from the tap.

Residents in the Clarence and Richmond Valley as well as those around the Kyogle LGA say they have had water issues for some time.

Sample collection bottles.

Local governments are pumping money into installing new infrastructure and repairing ageing systems.

Water NSW has come on-board as part of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program (TWRRP).

As well as the Clarence and Richmond, the other eight “local water utilities” participating are: Bourke, Central Tablelands Water, Clarence, Dubbo, Gwydir, Mid-Western, Murrumbidgee, Richmond, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys and the Upper Hunter.

Fiona Smith, WaterNSW executive manager of strategy and performance, said the participants “have said to us that they don’t have good information about source water quality”.

A section of the Tweed River. Water is pumped to the Uki, where it is treated to supply drinking water. Picture: DPI

“That’s why we’re delighted to work together to collect and test these samples as part of the NSW government’s Town Water Risk Reduction Program (TWRRP).

“Each month we’ll analyse the water samples collected from local reservoirs and rivers upstream of local water treatment plants. We will share that information with each participating council to provide an understanding of current issues in the source water and inform any management action.

“Then at the end of program we’ll put together a report of our analysis of the data we’ve jointly collected with each council.

“This baseline monitoring of source water quality will be a powerful tool to help each

councils improve the management of local water supplies.”

The village of Uki near Mount Warning in the Tweed Valley was one of the pilot study site. Picture: DPI

It’s expected the work in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) will improve water quality due to better monitoring.

“WaterNSW is a national leader in the water sector, operating most of the large dams in NSW and protecting the health of the drinking water catchment that supplies the more than 5 million people of Greater Sydney,” Ms Smith said.

“This is why our experts are well placed to help identify risks and fast track improvements to source water quality across the State under the TWRRP.”

Samples from the 12 participating councils will be tested in labs for metals, nutrients, organics and bacteria such as E.coli.

Ms Smith said monthly data would help “build a more complete picture of local risks and trends”.

Richmond Vallet Council is thinking ahead to ensure water security. Picture: DPI

After a year, come June 2025, the councils should have “a better understanding of what is in their waterways, including any seasonal variability”.

Successful pilot studies were run in the Clarence the Tweed Shire last November.

The state forked out $10 million ahead of phase two of the TWRRP being implemented.

Meanwhile, Richmond Valley Council has been working on droughtproofing its water supply.

An options study is set to outline preferred pathways, the scope of works, time frames and costs.

The council will tip in $200,000 to match the state government’s $200,000.

This project is expected to be completed by October to enable the council to consider its next move.

Richmond Valley Mayor Robert Mustow.

Mayor Robert Mustow said: “We already completed a water supply scoping study in 2022 thanks to $80,000 from the NSW Safe and Secure Water Program – which identified an expected shortfall of 514 megalitres a year over a 30-year period, along with a range of potential solutions to improve water security.

“Now these new studies will take us one step further by really focusing our efforts on the best and most feasible options that we can progress to help us prepare for a drier climate and improve drought resilience and water quality for Casino, which is great news for residents.”