In February 2022, IPART decided to delay the introduction of Essential Water’s new prices from 1 July 2022 to 1 January 2023, due to impacts on IPART’s staffing availability related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This means that IPART's draft reports, public hearing and final reports will be delayed and current prices will continue to apply until 1 January 2023.
IPART intend to release the draft report for this review in May 2022 seeking stakeholder feedback on draft prices that would apply from 1 January 2023.
IPART is the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW.
IPART is reviewing the prices Essential Water can charge customers in Broken Hill and surrounding communities for water and sewerage services from 1 July 2022.
As part of this review, IPART will consider what level of government subsidy is appropriate to ensure prices are affordable.
IPART is also reviewing Essential Water’s bulk water costs through our review of prices for Water NSW’s Murray River to Broken Hill pipeline.
Essential Water submitted its pricing proposal on 30 June 2021. IPART will review the proposal and release an Issues Paper for public comment on 21 September 2021.
Read the submission on IPART's website.
The Menindee water
supply was switched to the common bore on 2 December 2019.
Regular water testing continues.
For further information please call 13 23 91.
The Menindee water source is diminishing therefore plans are underway for the Menindee water supply to be switched to the common bore. When this occurs Essential Water is considering one option of supplying Sunset Strip residents and graziers with water from Stephens Creek.
Regular water quality testing continues.
For further information please call 13 23 91.
Essential Water is receiving regulatory funding from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) to ensure it can continue to provide a long term water supply.
Essential Water owns and operates approximately 200 kilometres of pipelines from Silverton to Menindee in far west New South Wales. To provide these services, it maintains a network of dams, water pumping stations, water treatment plants, service reservoirs, town reticulation, sewerage pumping stations, sewage treatment plants and other related infrastructure.
The funding will deliver a suite of major projects including:
- Construction of a small pipeline to supply graziers along the existing Menindee pipeline that will backflow water from Stephens Creek once the existing Menindee Pipeline is decommissioned
- Construct a small pipeline and pumping station to supply potable water, for the first time, to Sunset Strip
- Replace the Menindee Water Treatment Plant with a larger and more current plant to upgrade supply in Menindee and to Sunset Strip.
We will be working directly with customers who are expected to be impacted by decommissioning and construction activities throughout the planning process. We will also ensure all affected customers are informed at least two days before any planned works that may impact their water supply.
Throughout the design and construction of these projects, we will publish regular updates on this site. If at any time you have a question you can ask this on the 'Ask A Question' tab, or call us on 13 23 91.
Menindee Pipeline
Essential Water is committed to maintaining a non-potable water service for Menindee Pipeline customers.
Funding for a smaller pipeline has been allocated by IPART for the current regulatory period (1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022). This project is now underway, with detailed land survey and environmental assessments being undertaken.
The preliminary and detailed design and technical specifications for the pipeline and associated infrastructure will be completed in the first quarter of 2020 with construction due to commence shortly after. The exact date of commencement will be subject to environmental planning approvals.
Public Works Advisory (PWA) has been engaged as technical engineering and design specialists to ensure the pipeline will meet the agreed demand requirements. The pipeline will not become operational until testing and commissioning at each individual grazier’s off-take points has occurred, to ensure that the pipeline works as specified.
All customer concerns and queries will be considered as part of the preliminary detailed design.
Menindee and Sunset Strip upgrade
The Menindee pipeline which until recently was the main supply of raw water for Broken Hill, Sunset Strip, the Menindee Caravan Park and graziers is nearing the end of its lifespan. The existing 600mm pipeline from Menindee to Stephens Creek Reservoir will be decommissioned following the completion of the new Wentworth to Broken Hill pipeline. The large diameter of the existing Menindee Pipeline makes it unsuitable for continued supply to existing customers. In addition, the existing micro filtration plant at Sunset Strip has also reached the end of its serviceable life and requires replacement.
A fit-for-purpose small diameter pipeline will be constructed to continue supply of reliable water to the residences of Sunset Strip and Menindee caravan park. The pipeline will be supplied from a new water treatment plant, being constructed in Menindee, improving water quality from treated raw or raw water to potable water at these locations. These combined works will ensure that residences and visitors have access to potable water that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Once these upgrades have been completed, the existing unreliable and costly micro filtration plant at Sunset Strip will be removed. The pumps station at the Interconnecting Channel between Copi Hollow and Lake Menindee will also be decommissioned.
All concerns and queries will be considered as part of the preliminary detailed design.
IPART has released the Final Report and Determination for the review of Essential Water's water and sewerage prices in Broken Hill, to apply from 1 July 2019.
The Final Report sets out IPART's final decisions, and the reasons for those decisions, on the maximum prices that Essential Water can charge customers.
The Final Determination and Final Report are available on the IPART website.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released a draft determination on the Essential Water 2019-23 Water and Sewerage Pricing Submission.
IPART is seeking public feedback on the draft prices and will consider all submissions when making final decisions on prices. Stakeholder submissions to the Draft Report and Draft Determination are due by 24 April 2019.
The Draft Determination and Draft Report is available on the IPART website.
An addendum to Essential Energy's Proposal can be viewed here:
Essential Water has submitted its 2019-23 water and sewerage
pricing proposal to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
The proposal sets out Essential Water’s proposed service
levels, operating and capital expenditure programs, revenue requirements and
pricing arrangements for water and sewerage services in Broken Hill, Menindee,
Sunset Strip and Silverton.
Customers can provide feedback on Essential Water’s pricing
proposal at:
https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Water/Reviews/Metro-Pricing/Prices-for-Essential-Energy%E2%80%99s-water-and-sewerage-services-in-Broken-Hill-from-1-July-2019
IPART is expected to release its Issues Paper on Essential
Water’s 2019-23 pricing proposal in September 2018 and is scheduled to hold a
public hearing in Broken Hill in November 2018.
Draft
pricing reports and determinations are expected to be delivered by IPART in
early April 2019, with final reports and determinations in late May 2019.
Prices will apply from 1 July 2019.