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Water and Sewer

WATER CONSERVATION

Council has a Drought Management Plan in place to encourage water conservation and to prepare the community for drought with emerging climate variability.

Water conservation measures apply in the Inverell Local Government Area. Find a copy of the current conservation measures here.

For further information please contact Council’s Civil and Environmental Services on (02) 6728 8200.

TOWN WATER SUPPLIES & INFORMATION

There are three separate treated town water schemes that Council operates within our local government area, those being Copeton, Ashford and Yetman schemes. Details on these schemes can be found below.

INVERELL – COPETON DAM

Copeton Dam with a large storage capacity of 1,364,000 megalitres provides a secure water supply to the Inverell area.

Inverell’s water supply was originally obtained from Lake Inverell. Following the construction of Copeton Dam Inverell’s water has been supplied from this source since 1981.

Raw water is pumped directly from Copeton Dam to the Copeton Water Treatment Plant located on the western outskirts of Inverell. Treated water is distributed along a 70km corridor from Inverell south to Gilgai and Tingha and west to Mt Russell and Delungra, together with many rural allotments between the town and villages.

Council has extended the water supply to service residents on the outskirts of Inverell. Council has an adequate water supply to service Inverell’s growing population and meet the demands of future expansion. No water restrictions have been imposed on consumers since 1981.

ASHFORD

Ashford has a secure source of water from Pindari Dam located on the Severn River located approximately 20km upstream of Ashford.

Water released from the dam is pumped from the Severn River to the Ashford Water Treatment Plant and then gravitates to the village.

Pindari Dam has a large storage capacity of 312,000 megalitres providing a secure water supply for Ashford.

YETMAN

Two bores located in Council’s Yetman Depot provide a secure supply of water for reticulation throughout the village.

PUBLIC STANDPIPES

Council has installed coin operated standpipes at Inverell, Gilgai, Tingha, Delungra, Ashford and Yetman.

The purpose of the standpipes is to provide access to potable drinking water for shire residents not connected to the town water supplies. These town water supply standpipes are not intended for stock watering purposes or other usages not requiring treated town water.

People purchasing potable water from water carters should ensure that the water carter is registered with Council as a potable water supplier so that hygiene standards are being met and the public are not placed at risk.

Current Dam Water Levels

WaterNSW updates dam water levels daily via their website.

For your convenience dam levels have been listed below. Should you require any further information regarding water levels please visit the WaterNSW website – www.waternsw.com.au.

> Copeton Dam – 96.9%

> Pindari Dam – 100.0%

Levels reported by WaterNSW, 13 April 2022.

Algal Alerts

WaterNSW updates algae alerts via their website, however for your convenience algal alerts for the Inverell LGA have been summarised below.

To view the current algal alerts in full or to find out more about Algal Blooms please visit the WaterNSW website and use their interactive map to locate algal alerts in your area (the alerts reported on the WaterNSW website are for recreational water use).

Algal blooms can cause waters to be unsafe for recreation in both freshwater and marine water environments.

Algal alerts are issued by Regional Algal Coordinating Committees (RACCs) who are responsible for local management of algal blooms.

Algal Alert - Red Level

There is currently a Red Alert Level in place for the following water bodies in the Inverell local government area:

> Copeton Dam (Wonulla)

> Copeton Dam Station 1 (Dam Wall)

> Pindari Dam Station Boat Ramp

> Pindari Dam Station 1 (Dam Wall)

Definition: Red alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. The water may appear green and may have strong, musty or organically polluted odours. Blue-green algae may be visible as clumps or as scums. The ‘blooms’ should be considered to be toxic to humans and animals, and the water should not be used for drinking (without prior treatment), stock watering, or for recreation.

A red level alert is in place when >50,000 cells of Microcystis aeruginosa are present or a biovolume of all toxin producing cyanobacteria exceeds 4 mm3/L. A red alert level is also triggered if the total of all blue-green algae (toxic and non-toxic) exceeds 10 mm3/L or scums are present for long periods. At red alert level a waterbody should not be used for primary recreation. Waterbody managers should notify the public through signage and media avenues. Results should be forwarded to the appropriate Regional Algal Coordinating Committees (RACCs) for further dissemination and assistance in management of blooms.

Current as at 13 April 2022 as reported by WaterNSW, https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae#stay

Algal Alert - Amber Level

There is currently an Amber Alert Level in place for the following water bodies in the Inverell local government area:

> Copeton Dam Kiosk

> Copeton Dam Northern Foreshore

> Macintyre River at Lake Inverell 

> Pindari Downstream (Severn River)

> Pindari Dam Station 2/3

Definition: At amber alert levels blue-green algae may be multiplying in numbers. The water may have a green tinge and musty or organic odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. The water remains suitable for recreational use, however algal concentrations can change rapidly. Water users should use caution and avoid water where signs of blue-green algae present.

Amber level alerts are triggered when Microcystis aeruginosa concentrations are between 5000 and 50,000 cells/mL or the biovolume of all blue-green algae is between 0.4 and 4 mm3/L. At this alert level investigations increased sampling of algae is undertaken.

Current as at 13 April 2022 as reported by WaterNSW, https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae#stay

Algal Alert - Green Level

There is currently an Green Alert Level in place for the following water bodies in the Inverell local government area:

> Copeton Downstream (Gwydir River)

Definition: At green alert levels blue-green algae are present in the water at low densities, possibly signalling the early stages of the development of a bloom, or a period where a bloom is declining. At these densities, the blue-green algae do not pose a threat to recreational, stock or domestic use.

A green level alert occurs above 500 cells/mL of Microcystis aeruginosa or >0.04 mm3/L of total blue-green algae biovolume but below the amber alert level. At this level routine sampling for algae should be undertaken.

Current as at 13 April 2022 as reported by WaterNSW, https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae#stay

SEWERAGE

Council operates reticulated sewerage systems for Inverell, Delungra, Ashford, Gilgai and Tingha. The systems are operated according to Environmental Guidelines and monitored to ensure compliance with requirements.

The sewer network comprises approximately 128km of pipe, 1661 manholes, 19 pump wells and the sewerage treatment plants.

Provision of sewerage service to Inverell and district residents is restricted by the Development Servicing Plan. Connection to the sewerage system is a requirement for new and existing development within this area. Once a service is connected to a residence, Council is committed to providing full maintenance to the property boundary. Sewer blockages or other problems within a property boundary are the responsibility of the property owner.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICING PLAN

The Development Servicing Plan covers water supply and sewerage developer charges in regard to the Council’s development areas, serviced by Inverell Shire Council.

The Development Servicing Plan Contribution charges, based on 1 equivalent tenement for the 2020/2021 period are:

  • Water: $12,055.00 per equivalent tenement (GST exempt)
  • Sewer: $3,910.00 per equivalent tenement (GST exempt)

Last modified 13-Apr-2022

OTHER COUNCIL AFFILIATED WEBSITES

CONTACT COUNCIL

Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm

Correspondence:
General Manager
PO Box 138 Inverell NSW 2360

Administration Centre

144 Otho Street
Inverell NSW 2360

Phone: (02) 6728 8288
Fax: (02) 6728 8277
Email: council@inverell.nsw.gov.au
ABN: 72 695 204 530