Our water supply

Overview

Shoalhaven Water provide fresh clean drinking water to over 100,000 people every day.

Our water supply network consists of:

  • 3 storage dams
  • 38 water reservoirs
  • 26 pumping stations
  • 1500 kilometres of water mains

Our dams

Bamarang Dam

Bamarang Dam is the main water supply for the Shoalhaven and at full capacity holds up to 3,800 ML. It is an off-creek storage dam that is topped up from the Shoalhaven River further upstream at Burrier pumping station. The water from Bamarang Dam is treated at the Bamarang water treatment plant.

Bamarang water treatment plant can process up to 75ML of water every day for the community.

In times of drought, when the river flow rates are low, we ceased pumping from the river and we encourage the community to conserve their water usage. Reduced water levels in the dam are a trigger for water restrictions.

aerial view of bamarang dam

Bamarang Dam is located west of Nowra

Danjera Dam

Danjera Dam is the largest storage supply of water in the Shoalhaven and at capacity holds around 7,660 ML.

Located in a remote catchment area west of Nowra, Danjera Dam is the backup water supply for the Shoalhaven. Water from this dam is only released as a result of water restrictions. 

When we release water from here, it takes up to three (3) days to make it's way down the Shoalhaven River to our pumping facility at Burrier. Once the water flow has peaked we can then pump water to Bamarang Dam to top up our supplies.

aerial view of danjera dam

Danjera Dam located at Yalwal

Porters Creek Dam

Porters Creek Dam has a capacity of 1,900 ML and is located in a catchment inland of Lake Conjola.

Depending on water levels, this dam supplies water to the southern end of the Shoalhaven. The water from here is treated at the Milton water treatment plant.

aerial view of porters creek dam

Porters Creek Dam west of Lake Conjola

Pumping stations

Pumping stations are situated along the water pipeline network between the treatment plants and the reservoirs.

They contain powerful electric pumps that are able to pump the water across varying degrees of topography into the reservoirs for storage.

Reservoirs

Reservoirs are located around the community, they are individual smaller storage tanks normally situated on hills.

The reservoirs help to create a higher level of water pressure so that distribution can be achieved during high demand periods.

Water mains

Clean, fresh water flows down from the reservoirs along a network of underground pipes called water mains.

This is the final stage in the water journey before it arrives at each individual house, shop, factory and farm. 

Each property connected to the system has a water meter that is used to measure the volumes of water used at each property.