A 90-year old pipeline in Eaglehawk has been upgraded to provide greater water security for rural customers in the area.
Coliban Water has completed slip-lining works on a siphon in Victoria Street measuring more than two kilometres in length, from Upper California Gully Road to Butts Road.
Manager Infrastructure Corey Bourne said the works are part of an upgrade which will enable greater flexibility to supply water to rural customers on the Cockatoo Hill Channel.
The completed works mean rural customers can be supplied with either raw water from Cockatoo Hill Reservoir or recycled water from Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant.
“As we manage demand into the future, we may deliver from either of these two supply sources,” Mr Bourne said.
“Customer’s normal drinking water has not been impacted and is still supplied through a separate treated water pipeline.”
Historically, the Victoria Street siphon provided raw water to Cockatoo Hill by connecting an open channel near Turner Street in California Gully to an open channel in Wilkinson Street, Eaglehawk.
It ran adjacent to Victoria Street before being converted to an enclosed pipeline more than 90 years ago. It was then decommissioned about 15 years ago due to leaks near Butts Road.
Upgrades to the historic pipe have included slip-lining – a technique that was first developed in the 1940s, which involves installing a smaller, "carrier pipe" into a larger "host pipe" and grouting the space between the two pipes.
Works on the siphon began in January and concluded earlier this month.
Last updated on 22 May 2023