The Horsham SmartWater and Integrated Water Management Project is an innovative recycled water project which will support agricultural research activities and provide opportunities to expand recycled water use in the municipality.
The project involves construction of infrastructure that will improve the quality and accessibility of Horsham’s recycled water broadening its sustainable use in agriculture and irrigation of green areas in Horsham.
About the SmartWater Project
The project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s National Water Grid Authority, Agriculture Victoria and GWMWater.
The project has four components:
- Construction of small-scale desalination plant and upgrade of irrigation infrastructure at Agriculture Victoria’s Horsham SmartFarm;
- Construction of a Dissolved Air Flotation treatment facility at GWMWater’s Horsham Wastewater Treatment Plant, to improve the quality of the recycled water;
- Construction of a recycled water pipeline to connect recycled water to green spaces in Horsham including the racecourse, cemetery and Dudley Cornell park;
- Additional stormwater drainage and green-space connections, funded by the Victorian Government’s Integrated Water Management program, Horsham Rural City Council and GWMWater.
Construction work is already underway at the Horsham SmartFarm and all project components are expected to be completed in the second half of 2023.
This project will ensure that the Horsham SmartFarm remains at the cutting edge of international agricultural research and will enable more opportunities for Horsham to use its water sustainably.
Access to recycled water
GWMWater is working closely with Horsham Rural City Council and other potential re-use customers to identify opportunities for recycled water use at green spaces in the municipality, providing both sustainable and cheaper access to fit-for-purpose water.
There is approximately 400ML/year of additional recycled water available for allocation to other users which would be suitable for a variety of uses including pasture, vineyard or food crop irrigation. If you are interested in receiving a recycled water supply, please submit an Expression of Interest form. Visit gwmwater.org.au/horshamrecycledwatereoi for more information.
Please refer to GWMWater's Undetected Leaks and Unexplained High Usage Policy for more information.
Further information…
- VIC Water Guideline for Unexplained High Usage and Undetected Leak Enquiries > High-Usage-Leakage-Allowance-2020.pdf (vicwater.org.au)
- Section 273A of the Water Act 1989 > https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/water-act-1989/138
GWMWater has been approached by the Pyrenees Shire Council to investigate an extension of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline to provide water to the farm gate in parts of the Pyrenees, Northern Grampians and Central Goldfields Shire’s where surface catchment dams have become unreliable.
A feasibility study completed in July 2023 looked at options to provide a dependable rural water supply, utilising existing water infrastructure and storages where possible and considering how to accommodate future growth. The introduction of a piped water supply could also provide significant environmental, social and economic benefits to the region.
Now that the project has been proven feasible, the project has proceeded to Business Case to confirm the economic case for the project and to identify funding partners and funding options for the project.
Subject to a favourable business case and government investment being obtained, a pipeline extension will reach into agricultural areas in the Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees area north, and north west of Avoca, where productivity and growth could be enhanced through a more secure water supply.
The feasibility study is for a raw (non-potable) supply only and does not include potable (drinking) water upgrades.
Fact Sheet - Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Water Supply Feasibility Study
Newsletter #1 - Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Water Supply - 21 September 2023
Newsletter #2 - Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Water Supply - 4 December 2023
Newsletter #3 - Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Water Supply - 1 May 2024
Newsletter #4 - Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Water Supply - 6 August 2024
Expression of Interest
Expressions of Interest will be used to determine the project feasibility and progression to a full business case, costing and infrastructure planning.
Sewer fogging is a technique designed to identify leaks or unauthorised connections which may be allowing stormwater to pass into our sewer network. This increases the risk of spills from our sewer manholes, sewer pump stations and wastewater treatment plants during heavy wet weather events.
The fog will move through pipes and come up from the ground if there is a leak. The fog looks like smoke, but does not smell and is harmless to people, pets, food and materials
Please see Fact Sheet here which contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding sewer fogging.
If you require any further information about the works, please contact our friendly Customer Service Team on 1300 659 961 during business hours.
To meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Food Act 1984, we provide signage where urban water supplies are untreated. We seek commercial businesses’ and Councils’ assistance to ensure public water taps are clearly signed to warn the public that the water is not intended for human consumption.
Please complete the below form to order untreated water supply merchandise. We will provide these to you, free of charge, as soon as possible.
Commercial Businesses
We remind commercial businesses to inform their guests that the mains water supply is a non-drinking water supply. We encourage you to place ‘do not drink the water’ notification at public taps in and around your establishment.
Councils
We provide signage where urban water supplies are untreated. The signage assists Council with the implementation of its Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.
It would be appreciated if Council could ensure signage is visible at all publicly accessible taps located in areas where an untreated water supply is provided such as aerodromes, sporting grounds, parks, public facilities and meeting places such as community halls, public toilet blocks, amenities at lakes and weir pools. Please also consider any local committees of management that operate on crown reserves in your municipality. We ask that you make untreated water signs, stickers and publications, as listed below, available to these groups from your council offices/depots.