Dungowan Pipeline
Quick Facts
The Pipeline delivers raw water under gravity from Dungowan Dam to be treated at the Calala Lane Water Treatment plant before delivery to Tamworth consumers.
It is approximately 55 Kilometres long and mostly 500 mm in diameter.
Constructed in around 1958, it is made of cast iron concrete lined pipe sections about 5.5 meters in length.
Maximum amount of water that can be supplied through the pipeline is approximately 20 Megalitres per day.
Pipeline Breaks
High pressures and relatively old age makes the pipeline vulnerable to breaks. On average the pipeline has about 6 breaks per year.
Council has staff on 24 hour on call to respond and repair breaks in the Dungowan Pipeline. However, it can be a slow process to find the break, expose the pipeline, perform repairs and then recharge the pipeline and bring it back into operation.
Depending on where the pipeline break occurs, and how quickly we are notified and can locate the problem, it may be possible to limit those sections of the pipeline without water whilst repairs are carried out.
If you see or suspect a break in the pipeline please contact Council on 6767 5555 any time to report it. You will receive a Whispir alert as soon as we are aware there is an issue on the Pipeline.
Pipeline water supply is not guaranteed
Council does not guarantee supply of water from the pipeline. Indeed Council does not guarantee supply of water to any consumer.
Given the pipeline is shut down from time to time for repairs or other maintenance there will be times when no water is available at your property. In general these periods will be relatively short but it is possible your supply could be interrupted for up to 7 days. For periods longer than 7 days, Council will endeavour to arrange an alternate supply where possible.
Property owners who would like to improve the reliability of supply should consider running the water from the pipeline into a tank and then re-pressurising from the tank for use. If the supply from the pipeline is not available, consumers will then have access to water from their tank until the pipeline supply is available again.
Residential Water Saving Rebate - Rainwater Tanks
Through its Residential Water Saving Rebate Scheme, Council is offering financial assistance to residents who install waterwise products in and around their home.
This forms part of a program to make Tamworth ‘The Waterwise Region’.
If your property is connected to the Dungowan Pipeline, Council strongly encourages you to take advantage of the rainwater tank rebate.
Installing a tank on your property will also offset your use of the dam supply, saving you the cost of water consumption into the future.
You can find out more information and apply here.
Quality of the Water
The water supplied from the Dungowan Pipeline is not treated and the quality is prone to change quickly due to events such as inflow into the Dam and Blue Green Algae. The water is never suitable for drinking or showering.
Fees & Charges
Owners of a property connected to the Dungowan Pipeline will pay the following charges for water supplied from the pipeline:
Annual Charge
The annual charge is dependent on the size of the water meter connected to your water service. It is payable whether any water is used or not.
If your property is traversed by the Dungowan Pipeline as well as being connected, then the annual charge payable is reduced by 50% for the first 400kls consumed.
Consumption Charges
Charges for Raw Water Consumption (per annum) levied every quarter.
To find out the Fees and Charges for this financial year click here.