18 May 2010
SUGARLOAF PIPE CLOSES FOR NON-IRRIGATION SEASON
The Sugarloaf Pipeline has entered its scheduled shutdown period for the non-irrigation season, after so far delivering almost 17 billion litres of water.
The 70km pipeline, which transfers water stored for Melbourne in Lake Eildon via the Goulburn River, is scheduled to shutdown each year during the non-irrigation period that normally falls between 15 May and 15 August.
General Manager of Asset Planning, Paul Pretto, said the pipeline was helping boost storage levels away from record lows seen last year.
"Our reservoirs now hold 120 billion litres more than at the same time last year," he said.
"Above-average rain certainly helped but more than half of this total is from the Sugarloaf Pipeline, reconnection of Tarago Reservoir and water saved under Target 155.
"We'll keep building on that total in earnest when the Sugarloaf Pipeline reopens at the start of the new irrigation season."
Dr Pretto said the annual shutdown would allow for some work on the pipeline as part of its running-in period.
"The first 12 months in the life of any big piece of infrastructure is crucial, because that is when troubleshooting during day-to-day operations needs to happen," said Dr Pretto.
"We spent three months testing and commissioning the pipe before it was officially connected to Melbourne in February. Since then, we've monitored its performance under different conditions, including periods at full capacity.
"Some issues we've been able to resolve as we go, but the official shutdown period will allow us to make adjustments more easily," he added.
One of the main issues experienced during the first months of normal operation involved an outlet control valve, which is one of two ways the flow of water through the pipeline can be regulated. There had also been damage to electrical systems after a major storm in March and some excessive vibration in two of the pipeline's 12 pumps, which have since been resolved.
A total of 16.7 billion litres had been transferred via the pipeline before the end of the irrigation season at midnight on 15 May.
The water stored in Lake Eildon for Melbourne is released on request into the Goulburn River, from which point it is pumped via the pipeline to Sugarloaf Reservoir. Melbourne's storages are currently at 33.1% compared with 26.9% at the same time last year.
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