High Quality Drinking Water for the Mornington Peninsula
Melbourne Water is investing more than $60 million to improve the reliability and quality of water supplied to residents of the Mornington Peninsula.
This program includes:
- the construction of a $47 million pipeline from the Cardinia Reservoir to Pearcedale
- replacing the Frankston and Mornington reservoirs with storage tanks
- constructing a roof to protect water quality in the Dromana Reservoir.
At the completion of this program, drinking water supplied to the Peninsula will come from the same protected, closed catchments that provide Melbourne's water - considered among the best in the world.
The Cardinia-Pearcedale Pipeline
In late 2000, we completed the construction of a new 30-kilometre water main from the Cardinia Reservoir to the Tarago Westernport pipeline at Pearcedale.
The $47 million project was the largest water construction project undertaken by Melbourne Water for many decades. The completion of this pipeline was the first stage in upgrading the water supply system for the Mornington Peninsula.
Replacing open air reservoirs
All open service reservoirs in the Melbourne Water system are in the process of being covered or replaced with closed water storage tanks.
Water quality in open air reservoirs can be adversely affected by contamination caused by animals, birds and plant growth. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines recommend that all service reservoirs be covered to prevent contamination.
The covering of the Tyabb reservoir was completed several years ago. Melbourne Water is now working towards replacing the Mornington and Frankston reservoirs with storage tanks and covering Dromana Reservoir.
The planning of all these projects involves substantial community consultation and liaison with local councils and State Government representatives.
Frankston Reservoir
Melbourne Water is replacing Frankston Reservoir with a 53 million litre covered steel tank.
The proposed site for the new tank has been determined after consultation with the community and local council and negotiations with the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
The tank will be approximately 95 metres in diameter, 11 metres high and partially sunk into the ground. Construction will take place between August 2004 and October 2005.
When the new storage tank is commissioned, the balance of the existing land will be surplus to Melbourne Water's requirements.
Melbourne Water will investigate options for the future management of the land. Extensive community consultation will be part of this process.
Mornington Reservoir
Melbourne Water is planning to construct a 33 million litre water tank to replace the Mornington Reservoir. The proposed tank will be approximately 70 metres in diameter and 10 metres high. Construction will take place from August 2004 to October 2005.
The Mornington Reservoir was constructed in 1920 and currently supplies 26,000 people in Mt Martha, Mornington and Mt Eliza.
The replacement of the 280 million litre reservoir with a 33 million litre tank has been made possible by the increased water supply available through the Cardinia-Pearcedale pipeline.
Dromana Reservoir
The Dromana Reservoir was built in the 1930s and plays a vital role in ensuring that the water supply system can meet the increased capacity required each Summer when water demand in the region increases from about 15 million litres to 80 million litres each day.
Melbourne Water is constructing a roof to cover the reservoir, which is a 79 million litre storage, approximately 250 metres long, 110 metres wide and four metres deep. It is open to the air and has a clay base. The project involves constructing a fixed aluminium roof and lining the base and walls with a plastic liner.
The works within the reservoir are being carried out during Winter to ensure there is no interruption to Summer capacity.
While the works are taking place, water for Dromana is being supplied through a water main, which bypasses the reservoir. This main will also be upgraded as part of the works.