Our Water
Water History
The first water supply to Burnie dates back before the twentieth (20th) century and was from a spring at the foothills of Emu Bay. A gravity fed system station on the Emu River at Fernglade during the 1930's.
The Emu River and Romaine Creek systems were both replaced in 1956 by the construction of the Pet Dam at Ridgley, on the Pet River, which had a maximum height of 8.3 metres. The Romaine system was partly used until 1978.
The Pet Dam was Burnie's first substantial water storage, of 1,360 Megalitres (300 million gallons), and was a gravity fed water supply. The Pet Dam storage was found insufficient in the 1960's and the dam was raised by six (6) metres in 1966 to provide for a storage capacity of 4,230 Megalitres, (930 million gallons).
In the 1970s, the demand for water had increased beyond the design capacity of the system, resulting in water restrictions during the dry season. This resulted in the construction of the Guide Dam at Highclere on the Guide River. The storage reservoir, of maximum height fifteen (15) metres, had a storage capacity of 1,800 Megalitres, (396 million gallons), and was completed in 1982.
A 450mm diameter pipeline, 5,700 metres long, gravitates water from the Guide Dam at Highclere to the Pet River, and was completed in 1982. A 450mm diameter pipe also augmented the Pet River Dam to Burnie line and was constructed in 1984.
Also, during the 1970s, Council was approached to join the North West Regional Water Scheme (now operated by Cradle Coast Water). However, Council decided to retain its independence due to its simple gravity fed, low cost water system supplying the Burnie community.
Water quality issues of colour, turbidity also periods of elevated iron and manganese that were outside the required standards and caused dirty water complaints and the staining of washing, led to the construction in 1993 of the Burnie Water Treatment Plant (BWTP) at Ridgley adjacent to the Pet Dam. Council received a Local Government Infrastrucutre Award for the design and construction of an efficient water treatment plant.
This plant was designed to produce water in accordance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) and continues to provide water within the current guidelines. Council also continues to invest in the water system to maintain its capacity to deliver high quality, low cost treated water to the residents and businesses in Burnie. In fact, water is arguably Burnie's largest competitive advantage for its future development.
