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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 22 January 2009 SALT INTERCEPTION SCHEME PROVIDES FRESH WATER FOR MURRAY LANDHOLDERS Walbundrie and Rand landholders in the Murray Valley will receive a welcome flow of fresh water, with the NSW Department of Water and Energy turning on pumps today to direct the much-needed water their way.
The Department’s Deputy Director-General, David Harriss, said that the Billabong Creek Salt Interception Scheme pumps would operate throughout the coming months to provide much needed stock and domestic water for local farmers.
The scheme is located adjacent to Billabong Creek near Morgan’s Lookout, north of Albury. It works by pumping freshwater from a deep groundwater aquifer, preventing saline water in a shallow aquifer from seeping into Billabong Creek.
Mr Harriss said up to four million litres of freshwater will be pumped into the creek every day at Morgan’s Lookout.
“This will provide flow downstream to the townships of Walbundrie and Rand and much needed stock and domestic water for landholders that draw water from Billabong Creek,” Mr Harriss said.
“In addition, there is a standing outlet at the site that will also provide water for carting.
“Natural flow in the Billabong Creek has ceased as a result of these continuing dry seasonal conditions.
“We are turning on the pumps to provide some relief to the affected residents.
“Pumping freshwater from the Salt Interception Scheme also has the added bonus of maintaining water in pools for native fish over the summer.”
Operating pumps is part of a range of measures that the Department implements throughout the Murray-Darling Basin to ensure water is delivered to provide stock and domestic needs, and to meet the critical needs of the environment.
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