Water Supplies
Water and dam information
The Tamworth region enjoys a clean, safe and healthy water supply that is drawn from three dams, five rivers and a series of local bores. Water is provided to our community through a careful treatment process which takes places at the Calala Water Treatment Plant in Tamworth and local treatment facilities in the towns and villages.
The Tamworth, Moonbi and Kootingal water supply comes from three sources:
- Chaffey Dam
- Dungowan Dam
- The Paradise Drift Wells (emergency only)
Chaffey Dam is Tamworth’s primary water source with a capacity of 100 gigalitres. Dungowan Dam is a supplementary source with a capacity of 6.3 gigalitres.
Council has high security licenses to use 16.4 gigalitres at Chaffey Dam, and 5.6 gigalitres at Dungowan Dam, to be used for the Tamworth supply. Additionally, the Drift Wells adjacent to the Peel River, can be used during emergencies and severe drought.
Water supplies in the region’s towns and villages
| Area |
Water Supply |
| Barraba |
Split Rock Dam |
| Bendemeer |
MacDonald River |
| Nundle |
Peel River / Nundle Bore / Crawney Road Bore |
| Manilla |
Namoi River / Manilla River |
| Moonbi-Kootingal |
Tamworth supply via pipeline |
| Attunga |
Attunga Bores |
| Tamworth |
Chaffey Dam /Dungowan Dam |
Current dam levels
Please see below current dam levels for our region:
| Dam |
Capacity
(Megalitres) |
Level % |
Updated |
Chaffey Dam
(Data source: Water NSW) |
102,868 |
99.18 |
27/03/2023
09:00 AM |
Dungowan Dam
(Data source: Tamworth Regional Council) |
6,200 |
Currently
unavailable |
Currently
unavailable |
Split Rock Dam
(Data source: Water NSW) |
397,370 |
100.17 |
27/03/2023
09:00 AM |
Chaffey Dam~419069~15916.33~13.461~18/02/2020 6:00:00 AM
Dungowan Dam~9999~1220.94~19.3811~05/02/2020 12:11 AM
Split Rock Dam~419080~12675.16~2.417~14/02/2020 7:00:00 AM
For real-time and historical data for Chaffey Dam and Split Rock Dam click here.
For historical data for Dungowan Dam, please contact us.
Backflow Prevention
Backflow is the reverse flow of water from a source into the protected reticulated potable water system.
Our region’s water supply systems are maintained at high pressure to enable water to flow from taps. However, during a period of high-water demand such as a burst water main or when used by fire fighters, low pressure may occur in the system.
The reduced pressure can result in water flowing back into the system from external sources. This process can also occur when the pumps within a property pressurise the internal system to a pressure higher than the Council’s reticulated system. A backflow prevention device fitted at the property boundary prevents this from happening.
For further information please refer to the following documents:
Water Hardness
The water quality for our Tamworth Regional Council customers can vary significantly around the Region. This is due to the fact that our water comes from a range of sources. Groundwater, or bore water is often higher in hardness due to the fact that it has been in contact with rocks underground long enough for minerals to dissolve. Surface water from rivers and dams is often softer because it has not been in contact with rocks for long enough for the minerals to dissolve. Seasonal variations in hardness can also occur.
To learn more about water hardness check out our Water Hardness Factsheet. (PDF 549.2KB)
Water Quality Control
Clean, safe water is vital for everyday life. Water is essential for health, hygiene and the productivity of our community. Across the Region, Tamworth Regional Council can produce more than 50 million litres of high quality drinking water per day. Each system undergoes a rigorous water quality testing program from its source water to our customer’s tap.
To learn more about our water quality control check out our Water Quality Control Factsheet. (PDF 2.2MB)