Narrandera Shire Council is excited to announce that the community is one step closer to safer, more reliable water, with $908,000 in funding from the Albanese Government to develop a full business case for a new, state-of-the-art Narrandera Water Treatment Plant.

The funding will help Council plan the design and critical details of the proposed water treatment plant, paving the way for construction in the future, pending further approvals and funding. This project is a key priority for our shire, ensuring residents and local businesses have access to clean, sustainable water for generations to come.

Currently, Narrandera’s water supply comes from bores drilled in the 1960s and is treated with chlorination. The system faces challenges, including high iron and manganese levels and its location on a floodplain, which can affect water quality and reliability.

Council will match the government contribution, bringing the total cost of the full business case to approximately $1.82 million, with an expected timeline of around 20 months to completion. The business case will provide the necessary evidence and cost benefit analysis required to guide future water infrastructure decisions.

Federal Minister for Water, Rose Jackson said, “It’s fantastic to see the Australian government’s National Water Grid Fund putting nearly $1 million on the table to help strengthen water security for the 5700 residents of Narrandera.”

Mayor of Narrandera Shire Council, Cr Neville Kschenka added, “This is great news for Narrandera and will allow us to move forward with the planning required to deliver a project that is essential for our long-term water security.

“A new water treatment plant would future-proof our water supply and be a vital asset for generations to come, and this funding puts us on the path to making it a reality.”

Narrandera’s history of long term water problems

Narrandera’s dirty water has for many years been an ongoing issue caused by the town’s old pipes, although the water is regularly tested and deemed safe to drink.

Narrandera Council’s deputy general manager infrastructure, Shane Wilson, previously assured residents that the water met safety guidelines.

“It meets the safe drinking water guidelines. As much as the discolouration is unpleasant, it doesn’t pose a public health risk,” he said.

Narrandera’s water supply comes from four ground bores placed along the edge of the Murrumbidgee River, which have been there for at least 20 years.

The bores themselves have filtration systems within but they also go through the treatment plant, which does some filtration and chlorination.

Causes of the issue

• Old pipes: The primary cause is the town’s old pipe system, particularly older cast iron pipes, which can cause discolouration even with new mains.
• Pipe breaks: Main breaks can allow dirt and sediment to enter the water supply.
• Historical issues: Some properties have been dealing with this issue for a decade or more.

What the council has been doing:

• Long-term plan: The Narrandera Council has been developing an Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) plan and undertaking physical works to improve water quality.
• Pipe replacement: Approximately 2km of water mains are replaced each year.
• Free water filters: The council offers free household water filter units to residents who are experiencing dirty water.
• Ongoing testing: The water is regularly tested for safety to ensure it meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

In November 2020 council implemented a new program to improve the provision of clean water to affected properties in Narrandera.

Short-term measures to reduce the impact and incidence of coloured water included:

• routine and on-call hydrant flushing when customers report coloured water and
• installation of domestic filter units with replaceable cartridge filters in the worst affected areas, with four washable filter cartridges supplied.

This article appeared in Narrandera Argus, 11 December 2025.