Residents in Gloucester and Barrington can look forward to improved water stability following a decision from MidCoast Council to install additional chemical dosing systems at the Gloucester Water Treatment Plant.
In 2021, an independent investigation into the quality of water supplied by the treatment plant found that additional chemical dosing during the treatment process would reduce the potential for Gloucester’s water supply to contribute to the corrosion of copper pipes.
The investigation was carried out after concerns were raised by some community members that the corrosion of copper pipes at several properties in Gloucester was linked to the water supply.
While the investigation found that the water supplied by the treatment plant was less corrosive than other benchmarked water supply systems along Australia’s eastern seaboard, it recommended that additional chemical dosing would further reduce the corrosivity of Gloucester’s water supply.
Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said the decision to install lime and CO2 dosing systems at the treatment plant would provide peace of mind to the community.
“While the installation of these systems won’t necessarily eliminate future instances of copper pipe corrosion in Gloucester, it will significantly reduce the likelihood of our water supply contributing to any corrosion issues, which was a concern among some residents,” said Mr Scott.
