BACK HOME It will be necessary also to maintain Umberumberka to feed the city's demands during summer time peak requirements. With this usage in view the board intends to maintain the Umberumberka pipeline and pumping station. Time has taken its toll on the wood - stave pipes and losses through leakage have made it imperative to maintain water in the pipe to prevent its collapse through shrinkage should it dry out. The Companies, on behalf of the Water Board, have assisted by reviving the old B. H. P. supply from Acacia Well. Although water from the well pumped into the line assisted in preserving it, no water from the Acacia Well was actually received in the town to supplement the town supply. Installations by the Companies at White Leads and Rising Sun shafts permitted the pumping of water of a saline nature to our dams. This water proved suitable for milling purposes and its availability reduced the demand on the rail transported water. In 1939 the introduction of the sewage and city drainage system reinforced the need for a permanent water supply. A scheme was adopted which provided for a 610 mm pipeline, having a pumping capacity of about 22 megalitres daily, being constructed from Menindee to Kinalung, 59klms. to the west; from Kinalung 40klms to Stephens Creek reservoir, thence to Broken Hill a further 16klms distance. On May 11th, 1949, the present Government General, Sir William McKell, then the New South Wales Premier, accompanied by a party of Parliamentarians, officiated at an opening ceremony at Stephens Creek Pumping Station. The first sod was turned on a project for which 800,000 pounds had been allocated and the wheels were set in motion for a pipeline. THE WATER LIFT - The advent of Darling River flowing through the pipeline has overshadowed the remarkable accomplishment of sustaining a city of the proportions and importance of Broken Hill, through virtually six months of water famine, by operation "water lift". Over a single line rail track with dirt foundations the industry has been maintained in full production without the loss of a working shift of wages, and the domestic water supply maintained with only minor restrictions, and with no increase of water cost to the townspeople. This outstanding achievement has been made possible by the co - operation of the Water Board, mining officials and townspeople generally, in conjunction with the N .S. W. Government Railway Department and the men of the "water lift". The financial backing of the undertaken was principally carried by the mining Companies of Broken Hill and the Government. To obtain a conception of the magnitude of the water lift a few facts will help us to appreciate just what a colossal job has been. The water lift commenced on 13th November, 1951, and finished on 13th June 1952, operating for 197 days. During that period 1,517 water trains, with an average of 7.7 water trains per day, delivered 134, 911,300 gallons of water to Broken Hill; 19,273 tankers each containing 7,000 gallons were hauled representing in weight 602,282 tons of water. Each train averaged 88,000 gallons of water. The mileage travelled in these operations reached the staggering total of 182,040 miles, which is equivalent to 130 return trips to Sydney, or seven and one - third trips around the world. Great credit is due to all who co - operated in this outstanding achievement. Pipeline water was first pumped to Broken Hill from Menindee on 11th June 1952. The final act which ensured a permanent supply of water to Broken Hill was the construction of the Menindee Lakes Scheme which was completed in 1960. An ancillary service was created in 1967 with the reconstruction by North Broken Hill LTD of the old Imperial Dam into a Lake of over 690 megalitres capacity, at the northern end. The lack of permanent water supply - at last has been conquered END PHOTOS NEXT PAGE |