Relief for customers and preserving water quality is now the main focus of GWMWater’s Grampians bushfires response.
GWMWater has been working with Ararat Rural City Council to facilitate emergency tank refills for rural customers’ drinking water following bushfires in the area.
Managing Director Mark Williams said the organisation incurred some damage to assets, but for the most part infrastructure was protected.
“We thank all the firefighters and emergency service partners who worked together to minimise the impacts of the fires,” he said.
GWMWater is developing a water quality protection plan to manage any potential longer-term impacts of the bushfires on catchments within the Grampians National Park.
“The Grampians bushfires burned around Lake Bellfield and Moora Moora Reservoir. There have been no water quality impacts from retardants or agents used in fighting the fires. So far there has also been no evidence of ash or other debris from rainfall runoff that helped contain the fires in those catchments,” Mr Williams said.
“Water in our Grampians reservoirs is traditionally of a very high quality, so our focus is making sure we preserve those catchments and continue to deliver a secure water supply to customers.”
Areas that were not impacted by fires in the Grampians National Park are now reopen to visitors, including lakes Wartook, Fyans and Bellfield.
GWMWater will continue to work with the Emergency Management Victoria to assess the ongoing impacts of the bushfires.
Landholders who rely on rainwater for drinking can register for tank refills with Ararat Rural City Council.
