Power and Water Corporation given 18-month window to replenish Yuelamu's water

A Northern Territory town has just an 18-month window to address critical water shortages before its only source of drinking water runs dry. 

UPDATE MAY 11: A CENTRAL Australian community has just an 18-month window to address critical water shortages before bores run dry. 

Power and Water confirmed it was continuing to investigate long term solutions for Yuelamu after extending the lifespan of the town’s only water supply until the end of 2023. 

The Central Australian community has relied solely on a small aquifer source for water through two production bores. 

Water has been trucked into Yuelamu for more than a month after water meters flagged a critically low levels in the underground supply in April.

Senior Manager Demand and Developer Services, Kylie Climie said emergency measures were able to address the “immediate risk of service failure for the residents of Yuelamu”.

“We now have valuable time to continue investigating and implementing a longer term solution to deliver a secure and safe supply of drinking water to Yuelamu,” Ms Climie said. 

Ms Climie said the operation had found and repaired leaks in the community to “ ease the situation in the short to medium term”.

“Residents of Yuelamu are already extremely efficient with their water use and reporting leaks in their homes and we really appreciate their commitment to minimise waste of water in the community,” Ms Climie said.

She said lowering bore pumps by just a few metres and interchanging bore use and flow rates were effective in maintaining the water supply.

“It is now estimated the bore field can produce water for another 18 months with conservative water use,” Ms Climie said. 

She said medium to long-term options being considered include surface water treatment measures and alternative ground water sources.

In April PWC raised the possibility of reopening the Yuelamu dam, which was closed six years ago by a blue-green algae bloom which made the water toxic. 

The community was left without freshwater for a nearly a year as PWC spent an estimated $1 million to install a dual reticulation system to deliver drinkable and non-potable water.

Once again Yuelamu has been identified as a water-stressed community, one of 16 very high-risk communities according to PWC.

A PWC spokeswoman said Warruwi, Numbulwar, Engawala, Yuendumu, Amanbidji, Beswick, Kalkarindji, Imangara, Kaltukatjara, Pidgeon Hole, Robinson River, Tara, Titjikala, and Yarralin had also been identified as high-risk.

Water trucked in as supplies become critical

APR 1: WATER is being trucked into a remote Central Australian community as the aquifer dropped to critical levels, with regulators warning 15 more communities remain at high-risk.

Power and Water Corporation said water was being driving into Yuelamu, 280km northwest of Alice Springs, after water meters flagged the low underground supply.

PWC said the community had relied solely on a small aquifer source for water, through two production bores, since 2016.

“Power and Water has recently identified the groundwater that supplies Yuelamu is reaching a critically low level,” a spokeswoman said.

“Hydrogeologists are investigating why the groundwater level has dropped in the aquifer that the bores draw from to supply water in Yuelamu.

“Each aquifer is different and recharges differently due to the local geology.”

It said this would impact the community’s access to the water network.

PWC said water tankers would be used to supplement Yuelamu’s water supply for the coming weeks while a ‘smart’ water meter fleet would track usage across the network.

“This data supports faster response times to identify and fix leaks to reduce water waste quickly,” it said.

“Further detailed hydrogeological work is underway to gather more information on the extent of the depletion of the groundwater and planning is underway to identify a secure and safe water source in the short, medium and longer term.”

The Yuelamu dam, the community’ main water supply, was shut down by a blue-green algae bloom in the reservoir in 2016 meant the water was toxic and unsafe to drink.

PWC said possible solutions including looking at ways to extend the life of the current groundwater supply, accessing nearly non-PWC bores in the medium term and potentially reopening the Yuelamu dam.

Six years ago the dam, the community’ main water supply, was shut down by a blue-green algae bloom in the reservoir meaning the water was toxic and unsafe to drink.

The community was left without freshwater for a nearly a year as PWC spent an estimated $1 million to install a dual reticulation system to deliver drinkable and non-potable water.

“The surface water source in Yuelamu proved to be problematic and was taken offline in 2016 due to health risks following a severe and persistent blue-green algal infestation,” a spokeswoman said.

“As part of our current response we are assessing the surface water source and possible treatment options.”

Once again Yuelamu has been identified as a water-stressed community, one of 16 very high-risk communities according to PWC.

A PWC spokeswoman said Warruwi, Numbulwar, Engawala, Yuendumu, Amanbidji, Beswick, Kalkarindji, Imangara, Kaltukatjara, Pidgeon Hole, Robinson River, Tara, Titjikala, and Yarralin had also been identified as high-risk.

Central Desert Regional Council has been contacted for comment.