Our Water Supply
Water is part of our daily lives, we drink it, swim in it and often take it for granted. Yet, to bring high quality water to your home and community facilities is a complex process and requires long term planning.
Water Treatment Plant
Council’s raw or untreated water is surface water drawn from Glennies Creek Dam (Lake St Clair) and conveyed to Obanvale Water Treatment Plant, where it is treated to drinking water standards before distribution to consumers. The Obanvale Water Treatment Plant is a direct filtration plant and follows a careful treatment process:
- Coagulation/Flocculation - liquid aluminium sulphate and/or polymer is added to untreated water. Water goes through rapid mixers causing particles to stick together forming larger particles called flocs which are easier to remove by settling or filtration.
- Filtration - filters are made of crushed anthracite and collect the suspended impurities in water, enhancing the effectiveness of disinfection. The filters are routinely cleaned by backwashing.
- Disinfection - ensures any disease - causing bacteria, viruses and parasites are destroyed. Chlorine is used as it is an effective disinfectant and residual concentrations can be maintained to guard against possible biological contamination in the distribution system.
- Sludge drying - solids that are collected and settled out of the water by sedimentation and filtration are removed to the supernatant return ponds.
- Fluoridation - adjusts the concentration of free fluoride ion to the optimum level sufficient to reduce dental cavities. Council fluoridates water in the form of sodium silico fluoride as required by NSW Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957.
- pH correction - lime is added to the filtered water stabilising the naturally soft water in order to minimise corrosion on the distribution system and within customers' plumbing.
Council holds high security water supply licences which allows for use of allocated water on a priority basis, including in the event of drought.
Drinking water supply
Singleton Water Supply Scheme
Council provides high quality water services to approximately 18,031 people, through the connection of 6,349 domestic and 795 commercial / industrial properties across the Singleton Local Government Area (excluding Branxton). Potable water is supplied to Singleton town, Singleton Heights, The Pinnacle, Hunterview, Maison Dieu, Mount Thorley, Jerrys Plains and Broke. About 441 ML/year bulk potable water is supplied to large customers (Singleton Abattoir, Army Camp), potable water traders and three coal mining complexes.
The village of Bulga is not currently supplied with a reticulated town water service. Council has been working on strategies to establish a water supply scheme to improve the sustainability of villages in the Local Government Area. Further information on the proposed Bulga Water Supply Scheme is available here.
The village of Jerrys Plains receives a reticulated town water service. Jerrys Plains Water Supply Scheme is treated by AGL Macquarie, on behalf of Council and reticulated by Council.
Hunter Water Area of Operations
By agreement with Singleton Council, Hunter Water Corporation provides water and sewer services to Branxton and North Rothbury areas within the Singleton Local Government Area. Further information about water and sewer supply services in Branxton and surrounds, including contact information, can be found on the Hunter Water website.
Hunter Water's Area of Operations Map
Non-potable water supply
Mount Thorley Joint Venture Scheme
Council manages the bulk water supply of untreated water to three mines (Bulga Coal, Mount Thorley/Warkworth and Integra Coal) and Mushroom Composters under the terms and levels of service nominated in the joint venture agreement.
Raw Water Scheme
Council provides an irrigation and stock supply for property owners between Glennies Creek Dam and Council’s Obanvale Water Treatment Plant, including Judan Road. This supply is by way of connection to Council’s Glennies Creek Trunk Water Main before Obanvale Water Treatment Plant. This supply line is raw untreated water and is not suitable for domestic purposes.
Broke Fordwich Private Irrigation District (PID)
The Broke Fordwich Private Irrigation District (PID) pipeline is a community funded and constructed irrigation water supply servicing members in the Broke Fordwich, Bulga and Milbrodale areas. The PID is privately owned and operated by its members; this service is not provided by Council. Further information on the Broke Fordwich PID, including contact details can be found on the Broke Fordwich PID website.
Maps of water supply areas
Related Links
Urban National Performance Reporting
Benchmarks the pricing and service quality of Australian Water Utilities, covering 84 service providers across Australia, including Singleton Council.
NSW Government – Health
Provides a solid foundation for assessing drinking water quality, by specifying health-based and aesthetic criteria as well as the philosophy of a "multiple barrier approach" from catchment to tap, so to ensure safety of the water.