Mount Isa Water Board will spend $2.8 million to replace 1.2km of the original Moondarra to Mount Isa pipeline which it says will help the city's future water supply.
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The 13km Lake Moondarra pipeline connects the pumping station at Clear Water Lagoon to the Mount Isa treatment facility and is essential to the supply of 18 million litres of clean drinking water for local residents and 30 million litres of semi-treated water for industrial customers each day.
The section to be replaced runs from the Booster Station near the Junction toward the Quarry and Mount Isa Water Board Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Farrelly says it has a history of leaks and bursts.
"The majority, some 70 per cent of the pipeline, is still the original asset constructed by the Mine in 1958 which was purchase by the MIWB in 2010. The section to be replaced has been identified as having a higher risk of breaks compared to the remainder of the original pipeline," Mr Farrelly said.
"Construction beside the Lake Moondarra Road has commenced this week and will continue over the coming months. The existing pipe will remain in service until the new section is constructed beside it and a final cut-over occurs."
The upgrade comes a week after the Water Board was forced to fix a critical leak with its water filtration system at the filter plant.
Local water supply comes from Lake Moondarra downstream of Mount Isa on the Leichhardt River and Lake Julius which is 60kms downstream, both sources passing through this critical section of pipe.
"This pipeline is an absolutely essential part of the water supply network and the upgrade will help to ensure Mount Isa continues to have safe and reliable water over the coming decades." Mr Farrelly said,
"Even though they are out of sight and out of mind for most people, large diameter water pipelines are big investments costing over $2000 for every metre of length. Despite the size of the investments involved, the Water Board is proud that our total charges to Mount Isa City Council average less than $1.50 per 1000 litres which is about half the amount paid by Brisbane water users."
The pipeline renewal project is one of a number of capital investments during 2020 to upgrade and future-proof Mount Isa's water supply infrastructure.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
