Water Corporation prepares for tropical low in the North West

Water Corporation teams across Western Australia have been working together to ensure its assets in the North West are prepared for the tropical low, expected today.

Crews in Broome, Port Hedland and Karratha are preparing by testing back-up power generators and equipment, and ensuring they have sufficient chemical supplies to maintain water quality. 

In Broome, Water Corporation crews have been working around the clock to maintain services and restore assets to normal operation following the recent 1 in 100 year rainfall event, when the town received 673 millimetres of rainfall over a five day period, causing widespread flooding and stormwater inundation.

Water Corporation North West Regional Manager, Rino Trolio, said this preparation included work to reduce the pond levels at both of Broome’s wastewater treatment plants.

“We are still in the process of reducing the levels of wastewater in the ponds at our two treatment plants after they were inundated with stormwater earlier this month,” Mr Trolio said.

“We have continued to transfer flows from the Broome South Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant – where we have been maximising the use of recycled water for irrigation.

“By doing this, we have been able to reduce the levels of treated wastewater contained in the ponds at the two plants as an important preventative measure before heavy rains.

“While we are doing everything we can to minimise the likelihood of an overflow from the plants, should Broome receive significant rainfall there is a possibility of an overflow of treated wastewater occurring that is highly diluted with stormwater.

Water Corporation will continue to closely monitor the impact of the tropical low and reassures the community its number one priority is to continue to protect the environment, while maintaining water and wastewater services in the region.   

To report any issues with your water or wastewater services, phone Water Corporation’s 24 hour line on 13 13 75.