100-year-old storage basin gets an important facelift

15 April 2016

Wannon Water has commenced a $640,000 upgrade of one of the two water storage basins at the Hamilton water treatment plant on Kinnanes Road.

The Number 1 basin, the older of the two basins, stores and feeds raw water to the treatment plant, where it is treated to drinking water standards before being supplied to customers on the Hamilton water supply system.

The basin upgrade project is consistent with Wannon Water's proactive approach to maintaining its assets and will ensure the ongoing security of supply for customers in Hamilton, Tarrington and Dunkeld.

Wannon Water Asset Contracts Engineer Stuart Blignaut said the basin, and its associated pipework, is now more than 100 years old – some of the oldest water infrastructure in Hamilton – and due for an upgrade.

“This routine but important upgrade will see the basin’s earthen embankment strengthened to ensure it meets the Australian dam safety guidelines for at least the next 80 years,” Mr Blignaut said.

“To do this, we are rehabilitating a section of the embankment and installing a filter layer to protect it against leakage, which will increase the size and strength of the embankment.

“We are also taking the opportunity to proactively upgrade the basin’s pipework, including the outlet pipe that supplies the treatment plant, and the telemetry equipment that allows us to monitor the basin remotely.”

Other works include upgrading a section of the treatment plant’s perimeter fence, maintaining a walkway along the fence line for community access to the adjacent parklands.

No road closures or interruptions to customers’ water supplies will be required as a result of the upgrade works, with the treatment plant being supplied with water from the Number 2 basin while the Number 1 basin is offline.

The clay materials required to rehabilitate the basin’s embankment are being sourced locally from Wannon Water’s own Hartwich’s Reservoir site in Hamilton’s north.

Wannon Water expects the upgrade of the Number 1 basin and associated pipework to be completed this winter, weather permitting.

Once these works are completed, and the Number 1 basin brought back on line, Wannon Water will undertake rehabilitation works on the Number 2 basin.