We are dedicated to delivering water that meets the highest standards of quality and safety, ensuring it is secure and reliable for homes, businesses and rural customers. Around 18,000 customers in the Far West depend on us for consistent water and wastewater services that protect community health and the environment. 

We operate an extensive network of dams, pipelines, treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, and mains, which are all designed and maintained to ensure reliable service and water quality every day. Our water and sewerage infrastructure includes: 

• 597 km of water and sewer mains 

• 2 water treatment plants 

• 2 reservoirs (Stephens Creek and Umberumberka Creek reservoir) 

• 8 service reservoirs 

• 4 raw water tanks 

• 1 emergency dam supply 

• 3 active water pumping stations 

• 2 sewage treatment plants 

• 11 sewage pumping stations 

Water Treatment Process

Water for Broken Hill starts its journey in the Murray River and travels approximately 270 kilometres through an underground pipeline to a bulk storage reservoir near Broken Hill. From there, it is pumped to our water treatment plant. 

At the plant, raw water is separated into two streams: one is carefully treated into safe drinking water, and the other supplies raw water for rural properties and industry. 

Our treatment processes include coagulation and filtration to remove impurities, chlorination to disinfect, and UV light treatment to eliminate harmful microorganisms. These processes ensure the water you receive is safe, clean, and reliable. 

Wastewater Treatment Process 

Our wastewater system is designed to protect public health and the environment through reliable treatment. 

It begins with wastewater flowing through bar screens that remove large debris, followed by grit collectors that remove finer particles like sand. 

Next, the wastewater settles in large tanks where solids sink to the bottom. This sludge is sent to digester tanks where helpful bacteria break down contaminants, reducing sludge volume. 

Healthy bacteria are essential to this process, so it’s important that harmful substances like chemicals or oils do not enter the sewer system. 

After settling, the liquid flows through trickling filters—large tanks filled with rocks covered in beneficial microbial slime that further cleans the water. 

The resulting effluent passes through a tertiary pond where it spends about 20 days settling more solids and being naturally disinfected by sunlight. Finally, it goes through a UV treatment plant to kill any remaining bacteria and viruses. 

The treated effluent is then reused for irrigation or safely released into wetlands for further natural treatment. 

Sludge Management 

Sludge produced during treatment is dried in evaporation beds and then stockpiled on site. This careful management prevents environmental harm and helps maintain treatment efficiency. 

Skilled People Keeping It Reliable 

Our highly trained operators, maintenance personnel, and tradespeople (such as electricians, mechanical fitters, and boilermakers) work every day to keep Essential Water’s complex systems running smoothly. 

They work in challenging conditions, including confined spaces and with hazardous materials, all while following strict safety standards. 

Our teams are on call 24/7, ready to respond to emergencies like extreme weather or power outages to keep water flowing and wastewater safely managed.