Wide Bay Water Corporation provides quality water supply and wastewater treatment for the residents of Hervey Bay.

Catering to a population of some 48,000 people, the city’s water network comprises three dams on the Burrum River, two water treatment plants, six wastewater treatment plants and five wastewater reuse storage reservoirs that hold up to approximately 1500ML of treated effluent. The network also comprises 682 kms of water mains and 346 kms wastewater mains.

Much work has been done in recent years to bring this network into line with the needs of a rapidly increasing population. In so doing, Wide Bay Water Corporation has devised and implemented innovative solutions that maximise water use and minimise environmental impact.

As a result, Hervey Bay is the first coastal community in Australia that is developing a network to reuse 100% of its treated wastewater as well as reusing stormwater. Wide Bay Water Corporation is widely acknowledged as a leader in the field of environmentally sustainable water management.

Water Supply

Hervey Bay’s drinking water is sourced from Lenthall Dam via the Burrum River. Water is channelled from Lake Lenthall through two weirs to the Howard and Burgowan Water Treatment Plants, and from there, into the city’s water mains.

In order to maximise the amount of water available and thereby defer the need for additional infrastructure, Wide Bay Water Corporation has implemented a system of Total Demand Management which incorporates stringent monitoring of all assets to prevent loss of water through leaks, while encouraging residents to use less water by offering financial incentives and free WaterWise community education programs.

Since introducing this system, Hervey Bay residents are consistently rated among the lowest water users in Queensland.

Wastewater Services

Wide Bay Water Corporation is committed to recycling more than 90% of the city’s wastewater by 2008 through the Eli Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, with some 5 million litres per day being used to irrigate crops, sugar cane, pasture and tea tree plantations, as well as golf courses, sportsfields and a turf farm.

The recycling system involves treated wastewater being held in a 950 megalitre storage dam for a minimum of 30 days before being piped to farm land.

In addition to protecting the delicate marine environments of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island from ocean outfall, the land-based disposal of treated wastewater has resulted in increased production for the farms involved, effectively drought-proofing these properties.

Stormwater is also recycled through the Eli Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant by redirecting flows through the city’s sewer pipes at night when the sewer system normally stops flowing. This system of stormwater harvesting also serves to flush out the pipe network, preventing acidic corrosion problems and reducing maintenance costs, while protecting the local environment.

Research and Quality Control

Wide Bay Water Corporation operates its own laboratory to carry out drinking water and wastewater quality testing. Water samples are tested from the Howard and Burgowan Treatment Plants and at various sites around the city. Drinking water is constantly monitored and tested to ensure compliance with the Water Quality Standards for Drinking Water, as set down in the National Health and Safety Research Council guidelines.

Wastewater is monitored and tested after treatment at the sewage treatment plants to ensure the quality standards comply with the licence requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Additionally, five sites at Lake Lenthall are monitored and tested in accordance with various environmental factors.

The Wide Bay Water Corporation Laboratory is also available to private customers and the general public for water quality testing and analysis.

Awards & Recognition

In addition to providing consulting services to other local government water authorities and addressing national and international seminars with regard to sustainable water management, Wide Bay Water Corporation has been honoured with the following awards:

• Burnett Mary NRM Awards Local Government Natural Resources and Maintenance Award 2007
• Institute Public Works Engineers Australia Queensland, Engineering Awards of Excellence 2006
• 2005 – Institute of Municipal Engineering Queensland Award for Innovation.
• AWA Innovation and Leadership in the Water Industry - 2005
• Qld Public Sector CPA of the Year – 2002 for the corporatisation of WBWC
• Finalist, Banksia Environmental Foundation Award – Category 9
  – Infrastructure and Services for Total Demand Management, 2001
• Winner, AWA Water Environment Merit Award 2001 for Total Demand Management Project 2001
• Highly Commended Prime Minister’s Environment Award, 2000
• Commendation, National Award for Innovation in Local Government, 2000
• Winner, SEQ Natural Resource Management, Regional Awards of Excellence, 2000
  (In the category of Local Government)
• Finalist, Queensland Engineering Excellence Award, 1999
• Winner, Ergon Energy Tidy Towns Resource Conservation Award, Wide Bay Burnett Region, 1999
• WaterWise Commendation, Environmental Protection Agency, Community Education and Shower Rose Rebate Scheme, 1998
• Winner, 10th National Award for Innovation in Local Government, 1997
• Finalist, Banksia Awards – Government Category for Wastewater Recycling, 1997
• Winner, Highest Productivity Award, Maryborough Sugarcane Productivity Board, 1995, 1997
• Commendation, 5th National Award for Innovation in Local Government, 1992.

Customer Service

Wide Bay Water Corporation is working hard to deliver value-for-money water and wastewater services to its customers:

• Operates 24 hours a day to report emergencies, faults or service interruptions
• Free information factsheets and brochures are available from our office or on this website
• Free education programs are delivered to all primary schools in the region through our annual WaterWise Program