Water filtration plants on tap

By Kath Gannaway
MELBOURNE Water is installing water filtration plants along the Warburton Highway to avoid a repeat of last year’s dirty drinking water crisis.
But the plan has prompted complaints from one resident who says the plants are an eyesore.
The temporary plants are aimed at avoiding a recurrence of last year’s water crisis where residents in a number of townships from East Warburton to Woori Yallock had to boil their drinking water.
The water was deemed undrinkable after heavy rainfall in the Upper Yarra catchment reduced the water quality in the Upper Yarra Reservoir.
Melbourne Water external affairs manager Ben Pratt said with dam levels very low and the potential for a similar downpour to cause similar problems, five filtration systems were being installed to ensure effective water treatment.
The plants are being installed in Lusatia Park Road in Launching Place, Warburton Highway at Yarra Junction, Martyr Road in Warburton and Lyrebird Avenue and Brahams Road in East Warburton, on existing Melbourne Water pipetracks and adjacent to existing treatment facilities.
Mr Pratt said the plants can be moved if they are required elsewhere.
Mr Pratt also moved to reassure one resident’s concerns about the plants.
The Warburton plant is just a couple of metres from Emily Hanrahan’s Martyr Road property and she says she has written to Melbourne Water voicing concerns about the visual impact of the installation which includes 11 blue tanks, two large black tanks and a galvanised iron hopper.
Mrs Hanrahan said she was also concerned about the possibility of excessive noise when the plant was operating.
Mr Pratt said local residents had been informed of the impending works in person and that Melbourne Water had been working with the residents on ways to minimise potential impacts.
“The plant will only be operated in the event that we experience potential water quality problems again and sound minimising works are being installed now with the option of further treatment works to be implemented if the plant is required to operate due to water quality issues,” Mr Pratt said.
He added screening and other site treatments would also be installed.