Gippsland Water will undertake scouring works on water mains that supply Yarragon and Trafalgar on 23 and 25 October to ensure safe drinking water continues to be delivered to customers in these towns.

This water quality maintenance program will take place between 10:00pm and 6:00am on these days to remove loose sediment and particulate build-up inside the pipes that service these towns.

Scouring water mains, which involve the high pressured flushing of the inside of a pipe, is part of Gippsland Water's ongoing maintenance program that ensures residents continue to receive quality drinking water. The program was suspended in November 2006 in a move to preserve water supplies in time of low storage levels and inflows while staged water restrictions were in place.

Scouring and flushing programs are primarily used by Gippsland Water to keep water supply systems clean of sediment so that the potential for dirty water, taste and odour events in the reticulation systems are minimised.

The works are not expected to last longer than the two nights for both towns, with water supply interruptions unlikely to be experienced by residents. Gippsland Water will supply the townships of Yarragon and Trafalgar via tankers throughout the course of the works to ensure minimal interruption to customers.

Gippsland Water's managing director John Mitchell said, "Gippsland Water lifted water restrictions in most of our service area recently and will be reintroducing scouring and flushing programs for water mains in specific towns.

"This is an operational tool to keep water supply systems clean and ensure high quality drinking water that meets Safe Drinking Water Act guidelines is delivered to our customers."

The scouring programs will continue throughout the Gippsland Water service area whilst Permanent Water Saving Rules are in place.

Customers who would like more information can contact Gippsland Water's Service Centre on FREECALL 1800 066 401.


17 October 2007