SA Water network expanding to Wellington East

Around 220 homes in Wellington East will soon have access to safe, clean drinking water supplied by SA Water, as the South East town’s water supply system transitions to the utility’s drinking water network.

Wellington East’s current system sources raw water directly from the River Murray, which is untreated and unsafe for drinking. As a result, residents rely on alternative sources for drinking water, such as rainwater tanks.

As part of the transition of the water supply network to SA Water from the Coorong District Council, the community will be connected to an existing water main along the Princes Highway. This links to the Lake Alexandrina trunk main, which sources water from the River Murray before it’s treated at SA Water’s Tailem Bend Water Treatment Plant.

The Alexandrina trunk main was constructed in 2010 to supply drinking water to Lower Lake townships and agricultural areas, and it currently services around 113 properties in Wellington and surrounding areas.

SA Water’s General Manager of Customer, Community and Engagement, David Coombe, said the project will significantly improve the reliability and quality of Wellington East’s drinking water supply.

“Construction began late last year, with crews installing a new 1.2-kilometre-long pipeline on Ferry Road to council-owned land on George Mason Street, using 250-millimetre-diameter PVC pipes. Additional above and below ground infrastructure including two 150-millimetre-diameter pressure-reducing valves were installed in January, helping to ensure consistent water pressure across all properties,” David said.

SA Water is now working through the cleaning and disinfection of all existing raw water mains during May. This process will remove any residue or potential contaminants and ensure the network is prepared to deliver safe drinking water to customers.

“Following completion of the pipe disinfection and cleaning phase, together with SA Health, we will undertake extensive water quality testing to ensure the supply is safe and suitable for drinking. This process is expected to occur in June and take up to 6 weeks,” David said.

“While the water may appear clear during this time, it must not be consumed until SA Health declares the water quality as safe, and we notify impacted residents.

“Residents may experience temporary interruptions to their current raw water supply during this phase of work, and we will notify them in advance, as well as once the water is confirmed as safe to drink.”

SA Health Principal Water Quality Advisor David Cunliffe has welcomed the project and the outcomes for local residents.

“Providing a safe drinking water supply to Wellington East is a positive step forward that will support the health of the community. SA Health will continue to work with SA Water to monitor water quality,” he said.

Construction activities will continue in the area ahead of the water quality testing phase of the project, with crews on site between 7am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Temporary road closures or detours may be required during this time and SA Water is committed to minimising any impacts such as noise or dust.

“Once the water mains are operational and water quality testing has been successfully completed, Wellington East residents will become SA Water customers, having access to a 24/7 customer response service, bill payment support when needed and inclusion in our state-wide pricing structure,” David Coombe said.

“Until this time, they will remain as customers of the Coorong District Council.

“We want to make sure this transition is as smooth as possible, so will continue to provide more information to our new customers once an exact transition date is confirmed, which we expect to be in around mid-2026.”

Coorong District Council’s Acting Mayor Cr. Jonathan Pietzsch said working with SA Water to upgrade the Wellington East water supply to a potable, drinking water standard is securing Wellington East’s future and providing immediate outcomes to residents.

“Council’s partnership with SA Water has been critical in turning years of advocacy into a practical outcome for Wellington East. Through open consultation and close cooperation, we’ve been able to balance community concerns with the long-term advantages of a SA Water–managed system that will deliver ongoing benefits to the Wellington East community.”

For more information on the project, visit watertalks.sawater.com.au.