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Kaywanna Bore Water Board Chairman’s Annual Report - 15th June 2020
On 4th June 2019, the Danfoss Control Board at the Kalala Booster Station ceased functioning. It is old and no longer supported. Electrician Laurie Cairns (and Ashley) hooked up one pump to run on a temporary demand system until a new control system could be installed. There were a few problems until Andrew Williams fitted two new EDrives to the pumps on 27th June.
On 31st July, the water outlet at Kalala was again restricted by algae. Bevan English and I used cutting discs to widen the screen outlets inside the tank. This should be a permanent fix. On 2nd August, the steel supply line to Kalala pumps was replaced with poly to make easier access to the pumps. The check valves going into the pumps were replaced.
On 31st July, Bevan and I excavated two 90 mm gate valves at ‘Canbrae’ opposite the ‘Eaglebar’ entrance. These had the tops rusted off. The ground was extremely hard. On 6th & 7th August, Bevan and I excavated two 90 mm gate valves in the NE corner of ‘Waverley’ (Boogara and Jindabyne lines).
On 20th August, Fritz White and Callum (Broadacre Irrigation) installed two 90 mm above ground valves (with air valves) at ‘Waverley’ and two at ‘Canbrae’. Because of leaks in the new fittings, Broadacre had to make new ones and return to fit them a week later. Two concrete valve protectors were supplied from Walgett (Robinson Concrete) but have not yet been fitted.
In October, the float controller at the main bore gave intermittent trouble. Ewan Beaton and Kayla Davison had give it a shake on a number of occasions.
On 25th October, George Clark and I attended a leak on ‘Sherwood’. We excavated SAV 16140 and fitted a 40 mm gate valve to isolate the area near the end of the line. This needed some time to dry out so the machine was left at ‘Sherwood’.
On 4th November, Braodacre Irrigation fitted a new float controller at the main bore. This worked for a few weeks and then gave more trouble. On 12th December, Bill Davison observed the tank for a few hours and determined the float heights needed adjusting. This fixed the problem.
On 4th November, Broadacre re-fitted the dialler at Kalala (disconnected by A. Williams in June). It has been OK since.
In December, the pumps at Kalala threw out the circuit breaker. This happened several times during very hot weather. A pedestal fan was installed and some temporary insulation on the western wall. This mostly worked but the old CR2 pump needs replacing.
In early January, Bill Davison replaced a leaking air valve (DAV 8006) on ‘Jim Bruce’
On 7th January, I had to adjust an old pressure protection switch (mounted above the manifold) at Kalala. The pumps are now operating between 5.9 and 6.8 bars.
An application from ‘Kioma’ to temporarily swap water allocation points because of the drought resulted in an inspection (Bill and I) on 7th January and a special board meeting at ‘Coorangy’ on 9th January. Although a new policy was developed, the changes did not proceed due to rain in February.
On 31st January, Laurie Cairns went to the main bore and Kalala pump stations to quote on the installation of electrical fittings that would enable the connection of an external generator. On 2nd March. Laurie fitted new thermal overload contollers and a new cabinet fan at Kalala. The quotes regarding generator outlets were $1,850 for each booster station and $2,200 for the main bore.
On 22nd April I repaired a leaking PRV in a concrete pit on ‘Coorangy’.
On 12th June, the pumps at Kalala were operating below the required pressure. I spent a couple of hours there and was not able to isolate the problem. However, the pumps did increase operating pressure many hours later. It seems the pumps are not pumping efficiently. It could be algae in the impellers or perhaps the older pump is worn.
Over the year, the bore has delivered about 2.47 litres/second (77 megalitres). The previous year was 2.91 l/s or about 92 ml according to the meter at the borehead. The February rain must have made an impact. The system is designed to operate to a maximum of 7l/s. It is rare to see more than two of the four distribution pumps operating at any given time so it appears we operate well under design capability.
The solar generator has produced about 19,546 kilowatts of which 5,612 kw has been exported to the grid (29%). Electricity consumed through the supply meters is about 25,804 (last year 31,333 kw main bore only). Therefore, about 13,934 kw of electricity consumption is being provided and used from the solar array (14,444 kw last year). Put another way, 35% (last year31.5%) of the electricity used at the main bore site is directly provided by the solar system. The lower power usage is consistent with the reduction in overall water consumption. The distribution pumps have averaged about 2360 hours of operation each for the year (last year 3750).
The mini excavator has been at Anderson’s for a couple of months. It requires replacement of final drives and tracks. If this is approved, the cost will be in the vicinity of $16,000. The value of a similar, later model second hand machine would be in the mid $20,000’s.
The receival tank at the main bore is going to need some work in the future. The steel roof is rusting out and the 150mm outlet looks as if it may fail one day. Whether it is repaired or replaced, the cost could be considerable. Maybe $3-$4 thousand for repair and probably at least that or more for replacement.
We will need a booster pump (around $1,700) for Kalala very soon. Boogara booster station has been trouble free this year.
We need to look at future possible costs in determining our rates.
The financial position remains sound at present but you can see there are considerable maintenance costs to be addressed. Without the amount of labour volunteered over the past twenty years, the rates would probably be already more than double.
I extend my thanks to board members and volunteers for their continued contribution to the management and operations of the scheme.
Geoff Woods
Chairman
Kaywanna Bore Water Board
C/- Findex 24 Mclean Street GOONDIWINDI 4390