10 December 2008
STATEMENT ON WATER LEAK
Melbourne Water wishes to clarify recent media reports of a persistent water leak from a main running under Greensborough Highway in Macleod.
This leak was fixed in August 2008 and was significantly smaller than reports suggest.
We understand there is a high level of scrutiny around leaks, especially in a time of drought. While no system in the world is without leaks, ours have been reduced by a third since 2002.
On the independent Infrastructure Leakage Index, Melbourne’s system is now ranked as ‘worldclass’ in terms of minimising water loss.
Melbourne Water invested over $30 million in 2007/08 in renewing water supply assets across the metropolitan area. Over the next five years, we plan to invest a further $240 million.
The 10km water main involved in this leak, which takes water from the Morang Reservoir to Rosanna, is progressively being replaced to avoid similar issues in future. Work to renew the final 1.4km section that runs under the Greensborough Highway are scheduled to begin on 5 January 2009.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846