City of Orange
Encyclopedia
The City of Orange is a Local Government Area of New South Wales
, Australia
, including Orange
and the surrounding areas. It is on the Mitchell Highway
and the Main Western railway line
.
It includes the villages of Lucknow, Shadforth, Spring Hill
and March.
and Spring Creek Reservoir are used for domestic water consumption. Two other dams were previously used for domestic water consumption however are now used for recreational purposes, these being Lake Canobolas
and Gosling Creek Reservoir
. Orange was on Level 5 Water restrictions, however after heavy rain increased capacity from around 20% to 100% restrictions were eased back to level 2.
Orange City Council is undertaking a number of strategies to supplement its supply, including stormwater harvesting.
The first batch of harvested stormwater was released into Suma Park Dam on 21 April 2009.
The harvested stormwater was tested by Analytical Laboratory Services, an independent laboratory based in Sydney. ALS tested for 90 potential pollutants. The tests revealed that the water quality met all targets. The first batch contained 14 megalitres. It is believed to be an Australian first for harvesting stormwater for potable use.
The hardware is in place, operating rules have been developed and environmental factors and impacts on downstream users have been considered. A three month trial will ensure all these elements are working together to ensure high water quality and environmental standards are met.
There are several phases involved in the commissioning period. The hardware, which includes three separate pumping stations, creek flow monitoring points and advanced electronics including fibre optic cables, will undergo further operating tests.
The other elements of the scheme include a weir on Blackmans Swamp Creek, which creates a 3 megalitre pool and the site for the first pump station, a 200 megalitre dam and two 17 megalitre batching ponds. The pumps on the creek transfer stormwater to the 200 megalitre dam at a rate of up to 450 litres per second and are designed to rapidly extract peak storm flows from the creek. The operating rules require that a base flow immediately downstream in the creek must be maintained. The creek flow monitoring points ensure these standards are met. The monitoring station also measures when harvesting can commence. The trigger is flows passing the monitor in Blackmans Swamp Creek exceeding 1000 litres per second.
The local mine, Cadia Valley Operations, uses the city's treated effluent to supplement its water supply.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, including Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
and the surrounding areas. It is on the Mitchell Highway
Mitchell Highway
The Mitchell Highway is a major rural highway in Australia, travelling through central and northern New South Wales and south central Queensland. The highway starts from its northern end in Queensland with the Landsborough Highway near Augathella and continues south to Charleville and Cunnamulla...
and the Main Western railway line
Main Western railway line, New South Wales
The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, Central West, North West Slopes and the Far West regions.- Description of route :...
.
It includes the villages of Lucknow, Shadforth, Spring Hill
Spring Hill, New South Wales (Orange)
Spring Hill is a small village 13 km south-east of Orange, Australia. Its buildings date back to the 1870s and a Heritage Trail has been established for tourists...
and March.
Water resources
Orange has several water sources used for domestic consumption, both currently in use and formerly used. Currently/ Suma Park DamSuma Park Dam
Suma Park Dam impounds the water of Summer Hill Creek to form Suma Park Reservoir, the primary source of water for Orange, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately four kilometres east of Orange, with the secondary water source Spring Creek Reservoir being located approximately four...
and Spring Creek Reservoir are used for domestic water consumption. Two other dams were previously used for domestic water consumption however are now used for recreational purposes, these being Lake Canobolas
Lake Canobolas
Lake Canobolas, formerly known as Meadow Creek Dam, is a body of water located approximately 10 kilometres to the south west of Orange, New South Wales. The dam was constructed in 1918 by the then Canobolas Shire Council as water supply to Orange. Since that time the administration of the dam has...
and Gosling Creek Reservoir
Gosling Creek Reservoir
Gosling Creek Reservoir, located just to the south of Orange, New South Wales at ) was the first significant water supply reservoir for Orange, opening in 1890. Subsequently further water supply dams were built at Lake Canobolas in 1918 and then Spring Creek Reservoir in 1931...
. Orange was on Level 5 Water restrictions, however after heavy rain increased capacity from around 20% to 100% restrictions were eased back to level 2.
Orange City Council is undertaking a number of strategies to supplement its supply, including stormwater harvesting.
The first batch of harvested stormwater was released into Suma Park Dam on 21 April 2009.
The harvested stormwater was tested by Analytical Laboratory Services, an independent laboratory based in Sydney. ALS tested for 90 potential pollutants. The tests revealed that the water quality met all targets. The first batch contained 14 megalitres. It is believed to be an Australian first for harvesting stormwater for potable use.
The hardware is in place, operating rules have been developed and environmental factors and impacts on downstream users have been considered. A three month trial will ensure all these elements are working together to ensure high water quality and environmental standards are met.
There are several phases involved in the commissioning period. The hardware, which includes three separate pumping stations, creek flow monitoring points and advanced electronics including fibre optic cables, will undergo further operating tests.
The other elements of the scheme include a weir on Blackmans Swamp Creek, which creates a 3 megalitre pool and the site for the first pump station, a 200 megalitre dam and two 17 megalitre batching ponds. The pumps on the creek transfer stormwater to the 200 megalitre dam at a rate of up to 450 litres per second and are designed to rapidly extract peak storm flows from the creek. The operating rules require that a base flow immediately downstream in the creek must be maintained. The creek flow monitoring points ensure these standards are met. The monitoring station also measures when harvesting can commence. The trigger is flows passing the monitor in Blackmans Swamp Creek exceeding 1000 litres per second.
The local mine, Cadia Valley Operations, uses the city's treated effluent to supplement its water supply.