Pump Stations
McDowells Pump StationLocated on the Bank of the Burdekin River and central to the South Burdekin Water Area, the McDowells Pump Station consists of three electrically driven submersible pumps, one established in a dry cell and two operating from direct intake structures. Each pump (140kW) is capable of delivering 850 litres of water per second or 70 megalitres per day from river operating level over the bank to the collection chamber. A pipeline runs underground from the collection chamber to supply river water into the centre of the Water Area. Fords Relift Pump StationStrategically located within the McDowells Scheme, the Fords Relift pump station comprises of one 20 megalitre per day pump and one 15 megalitre per day pump diverting water to the Fords Gully Diversion Channel and artificial recharge pits supplied by that scheme. McDowellsThe McDowells Sand Dam is located approximately 100 metres downstream of the pump station infrastructure. The purpose of the sand dam is to create a pumping pond to the river pump station, the idea being to maintain a constant pool of water and more importantly, the surface of the pool to be kept at operating level regardless of the variations in the river flow. Water excess to the pumping pool level bypasses the sand dam and continues down the river. Sand dams are constructed from river be sands by hydraulic track excavators and during high river outflow will naturally dissolve to river bed level. Reconstruction of sand dams occurs after high level flows. Sand dams are not water tight and seepage through the sand wall will at times causes washouts when average flow of the river is exceeded. River bed sand dams are essential to the operational efficiency of the pumps. Recharge AreasThere are 23 recharge pits on the McDowell scheme, subject to suitable water provides artificial replenishment. The ten lagoons on the scheme are natural pondages connected by open earth channels, varying in capacity from 5 megalitres to 400 megalitres, they provide natural groundwater replenishment. Diversion AreasThere are four diversion areas within the McDowells Scheme, made of natural watercourses and lagoons inter-connected by man-made open earth channels with purpose of surface water distribution and groundwater replenishment. These diversion areas are commonly known as
These diversion channels supply 81 surface water permits supplying a total base volume of 13,575 megalitres to 3,394 hectares |
