Water Supply
Edward River Council owns and operates over 120 kilometres of water mains, and more than 5500 other forms of water assets (including Treatment Plant, reservoirs, hydrants, valves and meters). We not only maintain the existing water infrastructure by cleaning and repairing the pipes, but also by upgrading or replacing them as necessary.
Water supplied to residents from our supply is charged per kilolitre as per the annual Fees and Charges.
Water Testing
Water samples are regularly taken from the Water Filtration Plant and the reticulation system for testing to ensure they meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and specific NSW Health requirements.
Around 35 tests per day are performed on water being treated at the plant and approximately 45 tests per week are carried out on water taken from the reticulation system. In addition, Edward River Council Health and Building Officers take an average of five samples per week from the reticulation system for testing on behalf of NSW Health.
The tests measure factors such as:
- chlorine Level
- pH Level (which indicates water acidity/alkanlinity)
- fluoride Level
- turbidity (water cloudiness)
- coliforms (which indicates the level of bacteria in the water)
- E-coil Presence (E-coli bacteria can cause stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrohea).
Edward River Council records the results of all these tests to meet requirements for accreditation to operate a Water Filtration Plant and reticulation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are we billed?
If you are on a metered supply, you will be billed four times a year, every three months. Readings occur September, December, March and June.
How can I get the water connected to my property?
You can find the associated fees and charges here.
Once your application is approved and paid, we'll send our team out to complete the connection.
How do I check my water use?
Head over to the MiWater page and follow the directions.
Where does our water supply come from?
There are three catchments for the Edward River water supply:
- the Edward River
- a stand-alone bore site (used only in times of drought)
- the Mulwala canal (used only in times of drought)
What type of water treatment facility do we have?
The water treatment facility is in Lloyd Street. Water is pumped from the Edward River approximately 1.8 kilometres to the facility.
The facility uses the conventional treatment processes of:
- flocculation (make the coagulation process more efficient)
- coagulation (to bind dirt particles together and make them easier to filter)
- filtration (removal of dirt particles)
- chlorination (to kill bacteria)
- fluoridation (to improve tooth health in Deniliquin)
- addition of Powder Activated Carbon (to treat taste and odour issues)