By KATH GANNAWAY
MAINTENANCE on an aqueduct that supplies water to Reefton will see around 40 households without water for five days in March.
Residents Stewart Mill and Bill Jaensch say they are dumbfounded at both the timing of the cut to water supply, in the midst of a hot bushfire season, the short notice, and the presumption that people have an alternative supply.
Notices were sent by Yarra Valley Water in mid-February advising that Melbourne Water would be carrying out remedial works on a section of the Upper Yarra Aqueduct for around five days from 7 March.
It also advised that residents should store sufficient water for up to four weeks until the works are completed.
The aqueduct transfers raw water from the Upper Yarra Dam to Silvan Reservoir prior to treatment and supply to Melbourne.
Reefton residents draw on the aqueduct for all their water needs under a “Customer Untreated Water Supply Agreement’ with Yarra Valley Water.
Under the agreement, they are informed that the water supply is not reliable or guaranteed, and that it is unsuitable for drinking or food preparation.
However, Mr Mill and Mr Jaensch say very few people have tanks, and do rely on the aqueduct for all their water needs.
Mr Mill and his wife have a pre-schooler and a baby – and no tank.
While he says they will now look at getting a tank for future interruptions, it’s not an immediate or cheap option for them, and may not be an option at all for many others.
“We’ve been here for eight years, and while I understand that they have to do the work, how do they think people are going to manage everyday necessities such as showers, drinking water, flushing toilets and washing clothes.”
Mr Jaensch said in the 50 years his house had been there he had never had a tank, and there had been no issues with the water quality.
“We have the best water in the world here, why would you have a tank.”
He also said there were real fears around being left without water for fire-fighting.
He said in the past, sections of the aqueduct have been isolated for maintenance, cutting the interruption to supply to a minimum.
They are calling on Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water to reschedule the works until after the fire season and meet with residents to come up with a plan that will minimise the interruption.
Yarra Valley Water’s general manager Infrastructure Services Glenn Wilson said anyone with concerns should contact them directly.
“We can work through any issues which impact their individual needs, and will provide additional assistance if required,” he said.
