Air used to clean pipes

Gosford Council is investigating the benefits of using air to clean water pipes, with a pilot program at Woy Woy Bay, Phegans Bay and Horsfield Bay.

Council and contractors will be working in these areas throughout April.

The decision to pilot "air scouring" to clean water pipes has resulted from an extensive investigation into a range of options.

Council corporate relations officer Ms Breeama Sharp said this option, although, relatively expensive, minimised the disruption to water supply for customers and used 75 per cent less water than other cleaning methods.

The water used in the process would be recycled back into drinking water through the Somersby water treatment plant.

Water and sewage director Mr Rod Williams said: "By piloting this cleaning method in a controlled area, we will be able to assess the impact on our customers, the impact on the environment, and the overall effectiveness of this process for Gosford City local conditions, including the impact on the operations of the water system.

"We have been monitoring water quality in the area leading up to this pilot so that we can measure the impact of cleaning the pipes on overall water quality," he said.

"The results from this pilot will be used to further develop council's long term water main cleaning strategy during drought conditions."

"This technology has been used by a variety of water authorities and councils throughout Australia as it minimises the risk of damaging pipes during the cleaning process and on average achieves a 50 per cent reduction in dirty water incidents."

To minimise interruption to the water supply, pipes will be cleaned in stages.

Customers will be notified by letter the day before work commences in their street. For further information, call contact 4325 8222.

Press release, April 1 Breearna Sharp, Gosford Council