The 9km Mardi to Warnervale water pipeline is in its final stages of testing before it is commissioned and begins carrying water to the growing northern suburbs.
With pipe laying now completed from the Mardi Water Treatment Plant, off Old Maitland Rd, through to the valve house on Albert Warner Dr, Warnervale, the focus of the project is on pressure testing of the water pipe.
So far, more than 60 percent of the water pipe has been successfully pressure tested.
This involves filling the water line with potable water then increasing the pressure in the pipeline using an external mechanical water pressure pump.
The purpose of applying pressure inside the pipe is to detect any defective material that may be present prior to commissioning the pipeline for use.
Once it is determined that a section of the water line has no defects after the pressure testing, the water used in this section for the testing activities is transferred into the next section of the water line for reuse during the hydrotesting activities.
Work has started on revegetation along the pipeline route including re-seeding of the areas disturbed by construction and a planting program for replacement trees.
To reduce the possibility of tree roots compromising the pipeline, no trees will be planted within the 10m-wide pipeline easement, and instead that area will be replanted with grass.
Permanent blue coloured posts are placed along the underground water line as warning markers.
Work continues on the valve house on the Albert Warner Dr road verge near Sparks Rd, Warnervale. This contains the valves and equipment necessary for controlling the water flows through the system.
Construction of the $61M Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline started in April 2020 and is an integral piece of water supply infrastructure for the northern suburbs.
It will service expansion in the major northern growth corridor including Warnervale Town Centre and numerous housing subdivisions.
It will also improve drought security via bulk water transfers between the Central Coast and Hunter.
The 9km-long pipeline runs from the Mardi Treatment Plant to connect with the existing water mains at the intersection of Sparks Rd and Albert Warner Dr.
Sue Murray