Shires of Dumbleyung and Wickepin - normal water supply restored

Water Corporation advises repairs to a bushfire-damaged water main between Wickepin and Dumbleyung are complete and normal water supply has been restored.

Repairs to the pipeline – which supplies nearby farmland customers and the towns of Dumbleyung, Kukerin, Tincurrin, Dongolocking, Collanilling and Wickepin – were completed on Friday (18 February 2022).

This enabled water to be restored to around 40 farmlands customers in the affected area who had been without non-potable scheme water for the duration of the repair work.

Since Friday, water storage tanks at Dongolocking and Collanilling have refilled to stable levels allowing normal water supply to be restored to all other customers in the shires of Dumbleyung and Wickepin.

These customers are no longer required to limit water use to essential purposes, however, continued waterwise behaviour is encouraged to help save WA’s precious water. 

Water Corporation Great Southern Regional Manager Adrian Stewart thanked customers for their patience while emergency repair work was carried out.

“On behalf of Water Corporation, I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their patience, understanding and co-operation while the water pipeline was repaired,” he said.

“Great water saving efforts by the local community meant we were able to maintain water supply to the majority of customers for the duration of work.”

Mr Stewart said repairing the water main was a significant operation given the extensive bushfire damage and thanked Water Corporation staff, crew and contractors for their tireless efforts over the past two weeks.

“Around 20 crew worked long days in challenging and hot conditions replacing sections of pipe totalling 170 metres, welding 120 joints, and reinstating over two kilometres of pipework back onto its bolster blocks. Overall, the fire directly affected approximately 25 kilometres of our water pipeline,” he said.

“Nine contractors also worked 14-hour days, driving 17 road trains and semi-trailers to deliver water to storage tanks to ensure supply was maintained to most customers.

“Saying thank you to all involved – customers, community, crew and contractors – doesn’t seem to fully appreciate the enormity of everyone’s combined effort but thank you all so very much.”

Customer assistance package

The State Government, through Water Corporation, has established an assistance package for bushfire-affected customers throughout the Great Southern region whose property was lost or fire damaged. The range of support includes a free water use allowance of up to 50,000 litres, as well as interest-free payment arrangements and payment extension on existing bills.
  
For further information, including details on how to apply, visit www.watercorporation.com.au/bushfireassistance or phone Water Corporation on 13 13 85 (8am - 5pm weekdays).

For any prolonged water supply issues or faults, call 13 13 75 (24/7).

Update #3: as at 17:00, Thursday, 10 February 2022

Situation:

• Water Corporation crews have begun repairs to a bushfire-damaged water main between Wickepin and Dumbleyung.
• The main supplies nearby farmland customers, and the towns of, Dumbleyung, Kukerin, Tincurrin, Dongolocking, Collanilling and Wickepin
• Crews were able to access the damaged main this morning and undertake an initial damage assessment.
• Replacement sections of pipe have arrived onsite, and three welding crews are on the ground carrying out repairs.
• The water main, which runs along Read Road between Wickepin-Harrismith Road and Yilliminning Road, sustained significant heat damage, and up to nine sections of pipe needing to be replaced.
• Water carting to Dongolocking and Collanilling is continuing.
• There remains the potential for some customers in the area to experience low pressure or supply interruptions until repairs can be completed. 
• In addition, farmlands customers around 5km south of the Wickepin townsite to 25km adjacent to the corner of Kelliher and Astbury roads, are expected to be without non-potable scheme water for several days.
• At this stage, water supply is expected to be reinstated to these farmlands customers sometime next week (commencing 14 February) at the earliest.
• As a contingency, bottled water remains available at Elders General Store in Tincurrin, FoodWorks in Dumbleyung and Kukerin General Store in Kukerin. 
• Non-potable water for stock is available from a collection point at the Kukerin Showgrounds.
• Ongoing updates will be provided to the community when information becomes available.

Customer advice:

• Residential (town-based) customers in the area are asked to continue limiting water use to essential purposes, such as drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
• Please avoid filling tanks or bathtubs as this will drain supply. People should ensure modest amounts of water are available for drinking and personal hygiene.
• Affected farmlands customers are advised to make contingency water supply arrangements. Water for livestock can be carted from the water tanks located at Kukerin showgrounds.
• Our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires. Water Corporation extends its appreciation to firefighters and all those who have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property.

Update #2: as at 15:30, Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Situation:

Customer advice:

• Residential (town-based) customers in the area are asked to limit water use to essential purposes, such as drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
• Please avoid filling tanks or bathtubs as this will drain supply. People should ensure modest amounts of water are available for drinking and personal hygiene.
• Some farmlands customers may experience water supply interruptions for a period of days. Affected farmlands customers are advised to make contingency water supply arrangements. Water for livestock can be carted from the water tanks located at Kukerin showgrounds.
• Our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires. Water Corporation extends its appreciation to firefighters and all those who have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property.

Update #1: as at 18:00, Monday, 7 February 2022

Water Corporation is asking customers in the Upper Great Southern to restrict their water use following extensive fire damage to the water supply pipe between Wickepin and Dumbleyung.

Damage assessments are under way and repair work will commence when crews are permitted access to the fire-affected area. 

In the interim, to help manage supply, customers in the following communities are asked to limit water use to essential purposes, such as drinking, cooking, personal hygiene and sustaining livestock:

• Dumbleyung;
• Kukerin;
• Tincurrin;
• Dongolocking;
• Collanilling; and
• Wickepin.

Customers may also experience low water pressure and intermittent supply interruptions while contingency supply arrangements are in place.

In addition, farmlands customers in the affected area are expected to be without their non-potable scheme water supply until next week (14 February 2022) at the earliest. 

Given the significant fire damage, repairs are expected to take some time, so the affected farmlands customers are advised to make contingency water supply arrangements.

Further updates will be provided, as contingency measures are confirmed, and any customer with special water needs should call Water Corporation’s 24/7 Operations Centre on 13 13 75.

ends

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