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Safeguarding Buchan water supplies from bushfire impact

East Gippsland Water

East Gippsland Water is temporarily bolstering its water storages in Buchan with carted water, after bushfires and recent rain events rendered the water flowing down the Buchan River too dirty to treat and supply to customers.

East Gippsland Water’s Managing Director, Steve McKenzie, said, “Bushfire damage, coupled with rain, has impacted about 20 per cent of the Buchan River catchment, degrading the quality of water in the local waterway and requiring us to temporarily cease operating our Buchan Water Treatment Plant.

“This means that for the past few days we have been carting water into Buchan to top up our storages and ensure an unbroken supply of drinking water to customers is maintained. At the same time we have brought in an additional portable clarifier, designed to filter and clean the poor quality water from the Buchan River to a standard suitable for treatment by the permanent plant.

“The local treated water supply will be brought back into full operation as soon as possible, enabling us to cease carting.

‘We would like to thank the Buchan community for their patience and cooperation.”

The Buchan standpipe has also been taken out of service until further notice, to help conserve drinking water supplies.

Alternative standpipes are available at Golf Links Road in Lakes Entrance and on the corner of Livingston Street and Salisbury Street in Orbost.

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