Residents across the Clarence Valley are being asked to restrict town water consumption in line with Level 4 (Severe) Water Restrictions to avoid an LGA-wide boil water alert.
Currently, only residents in Coutts Crossing are affected by the boil water alert.

This is due to the village’s storage having to be topped up directly from the Nymboida River which had elevated levels of turbidity that exceeded the NSW Health levels for drinking water.
Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black said over the past week, the water supply has experienced the highest daily consumption levels in several years which has triggered greater concern over the capacity of stored water supply.

“If we are forced to continue to supply the higher demand, we will need to draw dirty water into the system which may trigger the need for an LGA-wide boil water alert,” she said.
The situation has arisen because the water in the Nymboida River has a high turbidity level (dirty) following recent rain events, which impacts council’s ability to draw water directly from that source.

High turbidity has been experienced in the Shannon Creek Dam since the 2019 bushfires, exacerbated by the subsequent floods, restricting council’s use of that source also.
Until late last year, Clarence Valley water storage was being supplemented by accessing a return flow from Karangi Dam in Coffs Harbour.

However, things changed late last year when Coffs Harbour Council advised, due to damage to a switchboard, it could no longer provide the Clarence Valley with return flow, leaving the Nymboida River as the only drinking water source.   
In response CVC approved the implementation of a number projects including:

·         Construction of settling pond at Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant (RRWTP), which will enable the drawing of water from the Nymboida River and/or Shannon Creek Dam when turbidity is higher than is currently acceptable.

·         Hire and installation of filtration units in the villages of Coutts Crossing and Glenreagh, both of which are affected by the raw water supply to Coffs Harbour.  

These activities were commenced prior to Christmas and are nearing completion (weather permitting).
“Over the Christmas and summer period daily consumption, dirty water levels at the intake, and stored and treated water levels have been monitored around the clock to mitigate risk of water restrictions and a boil water alert with the assistance of the NSW Departments of Planning, Industry and Environment and Health staff,” Ms Black said. 

In other positive news, recommencement of the return flow of water from Coffs Harbour was negotiated this week.

This, coupled with the works already in train at RRWTP, Coutts Crossing and Glenreagh, is indicative of Council moving quickly to respond and resolve the current situation while causing the least amount of inconvenience to residents.
CVC Mayor Ian Tiley said the governing body has been kept abreast of the situation since it changed last year, and is appreciative of the staff effort to manage the situation and avoid water restrictions or boil water alerts over the Christmas period.

“Staff are monitoring the turbidity at the Nymboida River intake and as soon as it is safe to do so will draw more water into the system,” he said.

“I am confident the inconvenience will be short-lived.” 
In the meantime, residents are asked to be patient and abide by the water restrictions.