SA Water is undertaking a $2.1 million project to relocate floating pontoons which house water pumps on the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.
This work will ensure the infrastructure can operate effectively into the future. The Blue Lake Pumping Station was commissioned in 1971 and is the third station at the site since 1884. The pumps source water which is them delivered to around 11,000 customers in the area.
The work involves new concrete piers further down the bank, disconnecting the pontoon pipe work, floating the pontoon further out into the lake and installing new extension pipe work to reconnect the relocated pontoons.
During June and July it is expected the pumping station will be offline during this period the township will be supplied from SA Water’s two confined aquifer bores. This is different aquifer to the one that feeds the Blue Lake.
Last year SA Water undertook work to ensure we could supply our customers while the upgrade was undertaken and that the quality of water being delivered to our customers would continue to be well within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The Blue Lake supplied some of the softest groundwater in South Australia and when the alternative aquifer is used in June customers may notice a slight aesthetic taste change in their water.
We will continue to notify the Mount Gambier community of the work and provide timely notice on the temporary change of source water.
Site work commenced in March 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by September 2008.
Customers and the community will remain informed about the project through:
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Notification via letters regarding the temporary water supply change
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Regular public notices in the local newspaper
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Updated on the SA Water website as the project progresses
For further information call the SA Water Customer Contact Centre on 1800 812 362.