Our Water Quality and Operations teams are working hard to get the new Bald Hill tanks back in working order.
Once commissioned, residents of Diggers Rest will be permanently supplied through the site.
We will be in touch with customers before commissioning takes place, once a date has been confirmed. All current information and commissioning updates will be published on this webpage.
What happened during the initial commissioning?
Between 30 April and 4 May, members of the Diggers Rest community reached out to us about taste and odour issues in their water supply. Water supplied to Diggers Rest always met health-based drinking water standards and remained safe to drink. However, we know the water did not meet community expectations during this period, and we're sorry for the disruption and concern this caused.
The taste and odour issues reported were due to water being held in the tanks longer than usual prior to commissioning. While these changes were noticeable, the water remained safe to drink at all times. To prepare to commission the tanks again, we have completely emptied and flushed the tanks out, and will fill each tank and release within a maximum of 7-days.
What actions did you take to fix the problem?
As soon as the issue was identified, we:
Isolated the affected supply and switched customers back to an alternative water source
Flushed the local network to remove the remaining water
Carried out extensive water quality testing through internal and external labs, with all results coming back as safe
Worked with the Department of Health to monitor the situation
Followed up directly with customers who contacted us, including arranging further testing where needed.
What have you done to make sure a similar taste issue doesn’t happen again?
Before recommissioning the tanks, we are completing a range of additional checks and controls. These measures include:
We have completely emptied and flushed the tanks out
We have filled each tank and released within a 7-day time frame
We have done extensive water testing through our independent laboratory (ALS), sampling for a wide range of health and aesthetic properties
We have completed a blind sample taste and odour test
The tank site will not commence supplying Diggers Rest until all of these parameters are verified and cleared by our water quality team.
Stay informed
We are committed to keeping the Diggers Rest community informed throughout the recommissioning process.
We are here to help. If you have questions or concerns about this change to your water supply, please contact us:
Yes. Your water has met all health based safety standards at all times, and is safe to drink.
As Sunbury and Diggers Rest grow, the community needs more water. The new tank helps ensure there is enough water available for the community now and into the future, including during peak demand and emergencies.
The new water storage tank will help support a safe and reliable water supply for the growing community. The new storage tank will:
Add 20 million litres of extra water storage
Help maintain reliable water pressure during peak demand
Strengthen the network as the population grows
Support future communities to Melbourne Water’s larger supply network
No. The tanks are currently removed from supply while additional controls are implemented, and testing is completed in preparation for recommissioning. To prepare for bringing the tanks back into service we're carrying out additional water quality testing to ensure the water meets all standards.
When we change over your supply to the new tanks, you may notice a slight change in odour and taste for a short period of time – this is normal as the system stabilises. The following are normal and expected:
Milky or cloudy water. Milky or cloudy water is usually caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water. This can happen during changes in supply or movement in the system. Running cold water through your tap for 5 minutes will resolve this.
Discoloured water. When you first turn the water on after a supply change, the water may appear to be a different colour from usual. This is due to small sediments that have settled in the pipe while it was dry. Run your tap until the water is clear (about 5 minutes) to flush out these sediments. They are not harmful and the water is safe to drink.
Mild chlorine taste. Drinking water must contain a certain amount of residual chlorine to meet health and safety standards. The trace amounts required for drinking water are noticeable to many people. Placing a jug of water in the fridge for an hour should neutralise the taste.
If you notice any unexpected changes, such as strong taste or discolouration after running your tap for 5 minutes, please contact our faults and emergencies team on 13 44 99 (available 24/7). If you notice any of the below, please contact our faults team:
Very strong taste of chlorine. A mild chlorine taste or odour is normal. However, your household water should not taste or smell like a swimming pool.
Discoloured water for more than 5 minutes.
A strong metallic taste.
Even if these changes are observed, your water remains safe to drink. We still ask you contact us so we can investigate what’s going on and correct any problems there might be.
