Southern Downs Regional Council: What to do when the dam runs dry – supplying over 5,000 people with water

Abstract

With the unprecedented drought we are currently in, what has and hasn’t occurred in the past is out the window. Storm King Dam at Stanthorpe has never run dry….until now. For Southern Downs Regional Council, that meant finding an alternative water source for over 5,000 connected residents plus a large number of rural residents relying on treated water. Bores are not an option at Stanthorpe – there is no luxury of a known reliable underground water source and the ground has a very high amount of granite rock which is difficult to drill. With the financial support of the State Government, Council implemented water carting via road, with 1.3ML of raw water currently being delivered to Stanthorpe daily which is around 42 return trips. This project has been an example of local government staff using their skills and knowledge to find solutions to ensure our community needs continue to be met during a difficult time.