GV Water said it was designed to help Euroa retain critical green community spaces while under stage two water restrictions, which limit the ability to water lawns, public places and sporting fields.
GV Water operations manager Steven Nash said it was a win for the community and for continually declining water storage levels.
“We understand how much communities value having green spaces, particularly for recreation, and we’ve been looking at ways we can help to provide them withoutimpacting on lowering water storage levels,” he said.
“Using raw or untreated water takes the pressure off the area’s precious drinking-water supply and will position us better in coming months, particularly if there’s below-average rainfall through autumn.”
GV Water said a contractor would deliver raw water to several sites in Euroa, including the recently redeveloped Friendlies Oval, Memorial Oval, Euroa Tennis Club, Euroa Bowling Club and Euroa Saleyards.
The tankered water is safe to use for this purpose.
While raw water is being supplied to water public spaces, reducing water use necessitates temporary closure of the Euroa and Violet Town standpipes so the towns’ potable water supply can be conserved.
The standpipes were closed on February 27, until further notice.
Mr Nash said the decision to close the standpipes had not been taken lightly. He said GV Water waited as long as possible before doing so and emphasised its priority to maintain the treated drinking water supply to Euroa and Violet Town residents.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience and thank standpipe users for their co-operation,” he said.
The first loads of tankered water were delivered last week and will continue with several tanker loads weekly as required during the next couple of months.
Water can be sourced from standpipes at locations in neighbouring towns, including Shepparton, Seymour, Nagambie and Murchison.
The news comes as the Bureau of Meteorology welcomed recent rainfall, but predicted several months of above-average rainfall would be needed to relieve drought-affected and dry areas.
GV Water is urging residents to continue making every drop count and conserve water as much as possible.
“We want to thank residents for their fantastic efforts so far, but our water storages are declining quickly, and we really need everyone’s help to reduce or maintain lower levels of water use so we can avoid introducing higher levels of restrictions,” Mr Nash said.
Planning is also under way on a new project to install a Class B recycled water standpipe in Euroa to help relieve the pressure on drinking water supplies in future.
Water was sourced in late 2019 from Polly McQuinns Weir on Seven Creeks to supplement supplies; however, this was not a sustainable water-supply option and GV Water was mindful of the overall health of the creek system, a spokesperson said.
GV Water will continue looking for alternative water supply options and has recently finished upgrades in Euroa and Violet Town to allow for water carting access in future if required.
You can find information on standpipe locations at www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/business/standpipes
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