Community tours key water treatment plant

Home to the region’s largest water storage and main water treatment plant, Wurdee Boluc is central to Barwon Water’s services.

It is here that about 80 million litres of water is cleaned to Australian standards every day, before being distributed in almost every direction to homes and businesses.

More than 110 community members learnt about the process of collecting rainfall in the Otways and sending high quality drinking water to their taps, at a tour of the plant in early May.

While Barwon Water regularly offers weekday school and community tours, it was first time the gates were opened to the public on a weekend for many years.

Central Treatment Coordinator Simon McCracken and Plant Operator Michael Murphy (both pictured) were among the Barwon Water employees who led visitors on a tour of the site.

Built in 1992, the treatment plant filters, disinfects and fluoridates drinking water that is supplied to customers in Winchelsea, Moriac, Anglesea, Airey's Inlet, Torquay, greater Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

The adjoining reservoir was created in 1927, before being expanded in both 1956 and 1991.

With a capacity of almost 38 billion litres, it is the largest in the region and can hold enough to support all of Barwon Water’s customers for about a year.

However, ongoing dry conditions have seen storages at Wurdee Boluc Reservoir decline to around 42 per cent.

More broadly, Geelong’s water storages entered May at a six-year low (39.6 per cent). The extremely dry period has led Barwon Water to encourage customers to use water wisely.

By making simple changes inside and outside your home, like taking shorter showers, fixing leaks, washing with full loads and not watering your garden in the heat of the day, you can lower your water and energy bills, and help the environment.

The Permanent Water Saving Rules – which are uniform across Victoria – help to make sure we use all drinking-quality water wisely. www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/permanent-water-saving-rules

Wurdee Boluc Water Treatment Plant

• Wurdee Boluc means ‘big lake’ in the Wadawurrung language.
• Treats about 80 million litres of drinking water per day, with the ability to double output if necessary
• An on-site 300 KW solar array and 200 Kw battery helps produce renewable electricity that meets half of the plant’s energy needs
• Treats water that has fallen in a natural catchment in the Otways, which is collected in the West Barwon Reservoir and moved 57km to the plant via an open channel

Visitors and staff take part in the Wurdee Boluc Water Treatment Plant tour.