Interruptions

Water mains cleaning - Epsom and Huntly

• Epsom and Huntly
• Tuesday 9 December

We're completing cleaning on the Epsom Huntly Pipeline from Monday 24 November until late December.

Swabbing and flushing works have taken place on Station Street between Howard Street Epsom and Gungurru Road Huntly.

Swabbing is a process where a dense foam cylinder swab is pushed through the pipeline using water pressure. This was further work required to remove sediment from the pipeline.

• A temporary worksite has been setup near the bus shelter on the corner of Tobin Crescent and Station Street, Epsom. This will be removed following the completion of the works. 
• Excavation work was required at Ironstone Road and Station Street, Howard Street and Station Street, Jones Road and Station Street, and Gungurru Road and Rennie Street. These excavation sites will be filled and cleaned up in the coming weeks. 

Current works: 

With the swabbing and flushing of the main pipeline complete, we are now flushing water through the smaller water mains pipes (laterals) that branch off the main pipeline.

This is done by releasing water at nearby hydrants. The excess water is directed to nearby stormwater drains.

This stage requires some planned water supply interruptions, impacting only a small number of customers. (Typically for a period of 2-3 hours). Impacted customers have been notified prior to the scheduled interruption.
 

From Tuesday 9 December:

We’re carrying out water mains cleaning at the following locations:

• Station Street between Tobin Crescent and Cassandra Crescent, Epsom from 9am until midday on Tuesday 9 December.  
• Rennie Street between Paddock and Pasley Street, Huntly from midday until 3pm on Tuesday 9 December.  
  These works should take 2-3 hours at each location. 

Update: Additional properties in Pasley Street, Huntly have required water supply interruptions during the pipeline flushing works. Water supply will be restored to these properties by 1.30pm today Tuesday 9 December. 

Some water supply interruptions are required for these works and impacted customers have been notified.

We recommend that these customers turn off their stop tap at their water meter during these flushing works. 

If impacted, we recommend you store enough water for your household to use during the interruption. When your water is off, your toilet cistern won’t refill after you flush, so you may want to fill a bucket with water which can be tipped into your toilet.

These works can cause temporary changes to the look of your drinking water. If this occurs, run your taps until the water runs clear. If problems persist, please contact us. Your water remains safe to drink.

For more information visit connect.coliban.com.au/water-mains-cleaning/swabbing

Blue-green algae - Upper Coliban Reservoir

• Upper Coliban Reservoir
• Wednesday 22 October 2025 until further notice

Low levels of Blue green algae has been detected at Upper Coliban Reservoir. 

The reservoir is still open for on water recreation, but visitors should avoid contact with the water when fishing or boating.

Please refer to the Victorian Fisheries Authority for guidelines on fish consumption when blue-green algae is present. 

While people and dogs are not permitted in the water at Upper Coliban Reservoir, if contact is made with the water please ensure you rinse with fresh water.

For additional blue-green algae water quality information visit here.

Odour update - Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant

• Epsom
• 21 October until further notice

We are aware of odour issues at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant and are completing works to minimise ongoing potential odours.

This includes regular odour monitoring to ensure the plant is operating as smoothly as possible.

Report odour to us here.

If it’s an urgent odour issue, we strongly encourage you to phone us at anytime on 1300 363 200. The more information we receive, the more we can build a picture of the areas of our plant most in need of attention.

Water and sewer main renewals - various locations

• Various locations
• September 2025 to early 2026

The following program of work is now underway as part of our $18 million Water and Sewer Upgrade Program. This work is being carried out to ensure our critical infrastructure can serve local communities for years to come. 

There will be no interruption to your water supply while the following works are being completed, except for a short period when your water supply will be transferred to the new main. Our contractor will let you know when this will occur.

You may notice lower water pressure from time-to-time during works. Impacted customers have been notified. 

Some traffic management may be in place for works.

You can read more about the Water and Sewer Upgrade Program here. 

Echuca fluoride system offline

• Echuca
• From April 2025 until further notice

As part of Coliban Water’s regular upgrade and maintenance program, the fluoride system at the Echuca Water Treatment Plant is currently offline while the unit is being replaced.

This means fluoride will not be added to the Echuca water supply until the work is complete.

Fluoride does not contribute to your water’s safety. Your water remains safe to drink.

For more information on why fluoride is added to drinking water and the oral health benefits, visit the Department of Health's website at health.vic.gov.au/water/water-fluoridation. And for other ways to help support dental health, visit health.vic.gov.au/water/unfluoridated-areas 

We encourage community members to speak with their dentist or healthcare provider if they have any concerns.

We expect the new fluoride system at the Echuca Water Treatment Plant will be installed by mid-2026.