Narromine is a step closer to securing long-term improvements in drinking water quality, with final design work now underway for the town’s first permanent water treatment plant.
Backed by $500,000 from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program and a further $165,000 from Narromine Shire Council, the concept design phase will determine the scope and configuration of infrastructure required to deliver clean, clear drinking water to around 3,500 residents.
The project addresses ongoing challenges posed by high levels of iron and manganese in groundwater drawn from deep bores drilled in 2012 to bolster the town’s supply during periods of climate stress. A temporary treatment plant installed in 2020 helped lift water restrictions but was never intended as a long-term solution.
While the temporary plant enabled continued supply, it lacks the treatment capability and capacity needed to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines in the long term or to support population growth, mining activity, and emerging renewable energy development in the region.
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NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Director of Grants Programs, Kirsty Fenton, said Narromine’s water quality challenges require a forward-looking response.
“Narromine continues to face unique and complex water quality challenges, and with mining and potential developments like renewable energy on our doorstep, it’s essential we get on the front foot and work towards locking in top-notch drinking water for residents,” Fenton said. “One of the problems is the high mineral levels in the bore water, which is currently being treated by the temporary plant, but it was only ever meant to be an interim solution and does not have the capacity or the technology to keep up over the long term.”
Before deep bores were introduced, Narromine relied on shallow bores connected to the Macquarie River, which produced high-quality water requiring little to no treatment. However, those sources proved insufficient during drought, prompting a shift to deeper groundwater with higher mineral content.
The planned permanent treatment plant aims to restore drinking water quality while ensuring reliability during dry periods. It will be designed to meet current regulatory standards and adapt to future demand pressures.
Narromine Shire Mayor Ewen Jones said the project is critical for community resilience.
“The Narromine community really did it tough during the last drought, so we must get this project underway to ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply,” Jones said. “We’re grateful for the NSW Government’s support in helping us design this critical piece of infrastructure.”
The concept design is expected to be completed by June 2026, building on earlier feasibility work supported by an additional $91,000 in NSW Government funding. Once finalised, the business case will inform future investment decisions and construction planning.