Turning up the pressure in West Wyalong

Water flow and pressure in West Wyalong has been improved thanks to the completion of the West Wyalong Water Reliability project.

Residents, businesses and local industry had raised concerns about water flow and pressure in the region impacting their way of life. New South Wales brought forward a proposal, the first sod was turned in October last year, and late last year the project was finished.

Ageing pipes were the biggest problem, being some 90 years old. Water was being lost to leakage and evaporation. As part of the project, the pipes were swiftly replaced with 8 km of main water supply pipeline and a 7 km water distribution main.

These new pipelines are helping to get the water to residents and businesses from a new transfer pump station and a 2.4 megalitre (ML) reservoir (a large source / pool of water).

The end result has seen water flow and pressure increase by up to 40%, with 80 L of water per second being pumped to households and businesses.

Over the course of a year, this adds up to around 6.9 ML of water being delivered to homes and businesses. This makes daily activities such as showering, washing clothes and watering the garden, easier for the community.

This will make a huge difference to the community, in particular during the upcoming summer period when water sources will be in high demand.

It will improve the liveability for West Wyalong, and has the potential to support the expansion of the town, with a growing mining and agricultural industry. Not only that, it may even help to attract future residents or see visitors extend their stay that little bit longer. Both adding a boost to the local economy.

The West Wyalong Water Reliability project was jointly funded to the tune of $13.7 million through our National Water Grid Fund, with contributions from the NSW and Local governments. It forms part of the NSW Connections package – helping to connect regional NSW with secure and reliable water.