With the dam at a disturbingly low level and falling, the addition of $250 000 confirmed last week by Macquarie MP, Bob Debus to fund a water re-use scheme in Oberon is a welcome boost.

Director of Engineering Leigh Robins states that the Oberon Council is already taking action, putting in place a plan to treat waste water from the sewerage plant to a higher level and then send it to the timber complex for re-use.

At present, the waste water undergoes tertiary treatment and is then released into the river.

“This water is not suitable for re-use now”, Mr. Robins says.

The proposal is to use the $250 000 to fund an additional plant, where processes such as reverse osmosis and micro-filtration will take place, and the reusable water will be then transferred to the timber complex.

“The main between the water plant and the timber complex has been worked on.”

Leigh Robins estimates that in a normal year the mill could use 500 mega litres of water, though it is restricting its water consumption at present, and therefore the addition of a water re-use scheme will make a vast difference.

“This reused water will also be cheaper than portable water”, Mr. Robins said.

Mr. Robins said there is a meeting on the 26th of May with the timber complex to discuss the issue further, and that if things go to to plan, the re-use scheme could be in place by the end of the year.

The funds could not have come at a more critical time. Mr. Robins states what has really driven the scheme is the alarmingly low level of the dam.

“If the dam level gets to 8% capacity, there will need to be a 50% reduction to water usage in Oberon”, Mr. Robins stated.