Prospect Reservoir releases water to supply system to ease flooding fears

BY NICK SOON

SYDNEY Catchment Authority is now pumping water from Prospect Reservoir into the general water supply system to prevent flooding in the surrounding area.

A spokeswoman said pumping began last Tuesday(February 28) and would continue for about two weeks to lower the reservoir level to one metre below full storage level.

Prospect Reservoir had about 30,870 megalitres and 93 per cent full while Warragamba Dam was 98 per cent full last Friday following continuous rainfall over the catchment areas over the last few weeks.

‘‘The water from Prospect Reservoir will be blended with supplies from Warragamba Dam and the Upper Canal, which takes water from the Upper Nepean System,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s routine practice that when Prospect Reservoir reaches a certain level, water is pumped into the water supply system to lower the reservoir.

‘‘This is to prevent the reservoir from spilling and cause localised flooding.’’

She said the last time water was pumped out of Prospect Reservoir into Prospect Water Filtration Plant to lower the reservoir level was last September.

Blacktown SES controller Gary Fry is more concerned about possible flooding in the Marsden Park, Riverstone and Schofields area by Eastern Creek and Bells Creek when Warragamba Dam release its water into Hawkesbury River.

He said his officers door-knocked about 15 houses at Lytton Road and Marsden Road in Riverstone and Clive Road in Marsden Park last Wednesday and would do the same at Garfield Road and Schofields Road if the situation got worse.

‘‘These low laying areas are close to Eastern Creeks linked to Hawkesbury River via South Creek in Windsor,’’ he said.

‘‘Flood will come if heavy rainfall continues for several days over the catchment areas.’’

He said about 20 officers were on duty on two shifts daily monitoring creeks’ water level in Blacktown.

Mr Fry did not think Prospect Reservoir would not pose a serious threat to residents, saying previous flooding was caused by blocked drainage.

Resident John Harrington who lives at Old Church Lane near Prospect Reservoir for 62 years agreed with Mr Fry that his property was unlikely to be flooded.

‘‘My neighbour’s property was hit by flood about six years ago because it is a low lying area and the drainage system were blocked by rubbish,’’ he said.