Dungowan Pipeline

Quick Facts

The Pipeline delivers raw water under gravity from Dungowan Dam to be treated at the Calala Lane Water Treatment plant before delivery to Tamworth consumers.
It is approximately 55 Kilometres long and mostly 500 mm in diameter.
Constructed in around 1958, it is made of cast iron concrete lined pipe sections about 5.5 meters in length.
Maximum amount of water that can be supplied through the pipeline is approximately 20 Megalitres per day.

Pipeline Breaks

High pressures and relatively old age makes the pipeline vulnerable to breaks. On average the pipeline has about 6 breaks per year.
Council has staff on 24 hour on call to respond and repair breaks in the Dungowan Pipeline. However, it can be a slow process to find the break, expose the pipeline, perform repairs and then recharge the pipeline and bring it back into operation.
Depending on where the pipeline break occurs, and how quickly we are notified and can locate the problem, it may be possible to limit those sections of the pipeline without water whilst repairs are carried out.
If you see or suspect a break in the pipeline please contact Council on 6767 5555 any time to report it. You will receive a Whispir alert as soon as we are aware there is an issue on the Pipeline.

Pipeline water supply is not guaranteed...

Council does not guarantee supply of water from the pipeline. Indeed Council does not guarantee supply of water to any consumer.
Given the pipeline is shut down from time to time for repairs or other maintenance there will be times when no water is available at your property. In general these periods will be relatively short but it is possible your supply could be interrupted for up to 7 days. For periods longer than 7 days, Council will endeavour to arrange an alternate supply where possible.
Property owners who would like to improve the reliability of supply should consider running the water from the pipeline into a tank and then re-pressurising from the tank for use. If the supply from the pipeline is not available, consumers will then have access to water from their tank until the pipeline supply is available again.

Residential Water Saving Rebate - Rainwater Tanks

Through its Residential Water Saving Rebate Scheme, Council is offering financial assistance to residents who install waterwise products in and around their home.

This forms part of a program to make Tamworth ‘The Waterwise Region’.
If your property is connected to the Dungowan Pipeline, Council strongly encourages you to take advantage of the rainwater tank rebate.

The available water tank rebates include:

Rainwater Tank (Small) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $200

  • 2,000 – 4,999 Litre rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
  • Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
  • If using rainwater for other purposes, tank must have a rainwater only tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank does not have rainwater only tap, Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
  • Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
  • Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
  • Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible

Rainwater Tank (Medium) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $800

  • 5,000 – 9,999 rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
  • Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank doesn’t have rainwater only tap Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
  • Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
  • Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
  • Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible

Rainwater Tank (Large) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $1,000

  • 10,000 Litre or above rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
  • Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
  • If using rainwater for other purposes, tank must have a rainwater only tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank does not have rainwater only tap Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
  • Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
  • Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
  • Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible

Rainwater Tank (Stand Alone - Small) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $100

  • 2,000 - 4,999 Litre rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Tank(s) does not have to be plumbed into the house
  • Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber 
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
  • Item eligible for rebate if undertaken after 11 February 2020

Rainwater Tank (Stand Alone - Medium) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $400

  • 5,000 - 9,999 Litre rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Tank(s) does not have to be plumbed into the house
  • Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber 
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
  • Item eligible for rebate if undertaken after 11 February 2020

Rainwater Tank (Stand Alone - Large) Description and T&C's - 50% or up to $500

  • 10,000 or above rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
  • Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
  • Tank(s) does not have to be plumbed into the house
  • Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber 
  • Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
  • Item eligible for rebate if undertaken after 11 February 2020

For a list of terms and conditions and to apply visit www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/waterrebates

Installing a tank on your property will also offset your use of the dam supply, saving you the cost of water consumption into the future.
 
Quality of the Water

The water supplied from the Dungowan Pipeline is not treated and the quality is prone to change quickly due to events such as inflow into the Dam and Blue Green Algae. The water is never suitable for drinking or showering.

Fees & Charges

In the 2023-2024 financial year, owners of a property connected to the Dungowan Pipeline pay the following charges for water supplied from the pipeline:

Annual Charge

The annual charge is dependent on the size of the water meter connected to your water service. It is payable whether any water is used or not. For a 20mm diameter water meter the charge is $319.00.

If your property is traversed by the Dungowan Pipeline as well as being connected, then the annual charge payable is reduced by 50% for the first 400kls consumed.

Consumption Charges

Charges for Raw Water Consumption (per annum) levied every quarter:

1st Tier - 0 to 400kls $1.24/kilolitre
2nd Tier - 401 to 800kls $1.36/kilolitre
3rd Tier - above 800kls $1.50/kilolitre

If your property is traversed by the Dungowan Pipeline as well as being connected then the consumption charges are:
1st Tier - 0 to 400kls $0.62/kilolitre
2nd Tier - 401 to 800kls $1.36/kilolitre
3rd Tier - above 800kls $1.50/kilolitre