Page 31 - City of Cessnock Water Supply and Sewerage Service Utility

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The reservoir is of circular design built of steel construction on a ground
level. It has an internal diameter of 40.846 metres (120 feet) and a wall
height of 8.3 metres to give a depth of 27 feet when full at which time the water
level is then 246 feet above sea level. The reservoir was completed and brought
into service on the 11th November, 1980.

On 15th April, 1980 H.D.W.B. Architect, D.A. Bennett, prepared plans for
an additional small booster pump to be installed at Heddon Greta. The design
incorporated the erection of a new brick pumphouse. The additional .pump was a
"Worthington" 12NL-21 type. This was driven by a Toshiba electric motor.

In 1980 an operation experiment was conducted at Cessnock Treatment
Works to determine if biocatalysts will help alleviate the build-up of crust
that occurs in many sludge digestors. The biocatalyst used in this experiment
is "Actizme" and is manufactured by Southern Cross Laboratories Pty. Ltd.
The trial on the digeator scum at Cessnock was terminated in December 1981.
After a promising start the progress was disappointing.

FINAL COMMENTS

An early Water Supply Superintendent of the H.D.W.B. Mr. George Lamont
in the 1930's described the activities of the Board in terms that are still apt
to our Coalfield's Water and Sewerage Systems of today and are very fitting as a
final comment to this paper. I quote: "The generation of today do not count their
blessings. We have a plentiful supply of fresh water conducted through pipes
into our homes at a nominal cost to the customer and it is only necessary to open
a tap and water will flow out as long as it's desired. Our homes are protected
from fire, hot or cold baths can be obtained in a few minutes, the sanitary
conveniences are ... free from the objectionable conditions existing ' in ... the
early days. Yet if a slight discolouration appears in the water, or the supply
is shut off while repairs or alterations are being made -to the watermain,
complaints are at once made that clothes are being spoilt in the wash tub, or
residents are famishing for a drink of water. At drought periods in the early
days people were very satisfied to obtain water of almost and quality to tide
them over until the rain came to replenish - the tanks."