More than 7 million litres of water per day is being added to the Sunshine Coast Regional District's Chapman Water System this week, according to chief administrative officer Dean McKinley.
Speaking with Coast Reporter just before noon on July 11, McKinley said that crews were on site at the Church Road/Elphinstone pump house facility preparing to start the pumps that will carry water from that site to reservoirs on Reed Road, which in turn feed the Chapman system. While that site is slated to produce 4.6 million litres per day, McKinley said a start up daily volume in the range of 3 to 4 million litres was being planned for to allow the system "to get her sea-legs". That $9.27 million well field project was signed of as "substantially complete" on July 6.
Pumping of up to 2.7 million litres on a daily basis from Gray Creek into the Chapman system is set to begin on Thursday, July 13. "With no rain in the forecast, we are thankful to be able to get that source up and running," McKinley stated, noting that any onset of rain would mean a halt to pumping of water from that creek, due to issues with water turbidity at that site.
The CAO noted details on those two additions and more will be part of a water update staff are preparing to present to the regional directors at the committee of the whole meeting which is set to convene at 9:30 a.m. on July 13.
While viewing the recent water source additions as positives for sustaining community water supplies, he noted that "If this year is like last year weather-wise, we are still going to be struggling...these drought conditions have been serious, they have accelerated, and there is still alot of work to do."
