Lismore City Council fixing Esmonde St, East Lismore and Wyreema Ave, Goonellabah drinking water reservoirs

A Northern Rivers council is undertaking important repairs to two of many water reservoirs critical for water security. Find out more about the project.

Workers in the Esmonde St, East Lismore Reservoir. Picture: File

A Northern Rivers council is splashing $1 million on two of its many water reservoirs critical to Lismore’s water supply network.

It follows a health check on the condition of the concrete systems built nearly 60 and 90 years ago.

Lismore City Council said the reservoirs on Esmonde Street, East Lismore and Wyreema Ave, Goonellabah would be emptied to carry out the essential repairs and remediation.

The Esmonde St water reservoir from the air.

Work has already begun on the Esmonde St reservoir built in 1938.

At 7.38 metres high and with a diameter of 30.5m, the water storage tank holds 5.68 megalitres – equivalent to almost three full-size Olympic swimming pools.

The Wyreema reservoir, constructed in 1959, is due to be worked on from 2025. At a total capacity of 2.84 megalitres, it is half the size of the Esmonde Street reservoir.

Wyreema Ave water reservoir in Goonellabah in an aerial image.

The council’s head of water and wastewater Matt Potter said the work was important to maintain excellent water quality and compliance.

“Typically, concrete assets like these, which are 50 to 80-years-old, require in-depth service and maintenance, which will extend their lifespan for many more years,” he said.

“The Esmonde Street reservoir is empty and we’re sealing the inside concrete construction joints, which involves applying an adhesive and a bandage system to the internal wall and floor joints to strengthen its design further.

“Concrete spalling, which is when the concrete begins to degrade or break away, was also detected in several locations, necessitating remediation to the concrete.”

Mr Potter said being inside the structure and seeing the engineering up close was “incredible”.

Lismore Council scuba divers. Picture: Peter Holt/Northern Star Archive

He said council’s Water Operations Team conducts spot health checks using scuba divers, who inspect and clean the reservoirs, preventing sediment build-up and helping ensure water quality.

“Divers are part of our regular maintenance schedule and help keep the water safe for usage. They also provide the council with a Condition Assessment Report on the internals of the tank,” Mr Potter explained.

“Lismore City Council’s water is tested weekly at all the reservoir sites and the results are vetted against the trigger limits listed in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.”

After the major remediation works are done, the reservoir will be cleaned and disinfected before refilling.

Mr Potter said while the scaffolding is up, it was an opportunity to install new water nozzles which fill the storage.

“We’re installing directional nozzles, which will improve water quality even more by ensuring even circulation throughout the system,” he said.

Remediation works are in progress for two of Lismore City Council’s water reservoirs.

The Esmonde Street reservoir is filled by gravity with water from the council’s High St reservoir, which means there is no need to pump.

Residents will not experience any water interruptions during the reservoir work, the council added.

The Esmonde St works are expected to be completed by October and the Wyreema Ave works are expected to start early next year and be finished by June.