The Reservoir Cleaning and Condition Assessment project started as a RAPAD contract but quickly expanded across three QWRAP regions – RAPAD, North West, and South West. It involved inspecting and cleaning 35 reservoirs, ensuring they were in good condition and helping councils plan future maintenance and upgrades.

The QWRAP Reservoir Cleaning Project played a key role in protecting drinking water quality across the participating Councils in the three regions.
But here’s the kicker – seven elevated reservoirs had dangerously high RF radiation levels due to telecoms gear on their roofs. In every case, the teams couldn’t switch off the equipment because it wasn’t labelled, or the listed contact numbers were no longer in use. So, external inspections were the only option to keep personnel safe.

Even more concerning, EME levels in some reservoirs hit 200% – double the threshold considered unsafe. Thankfully, many of these sites were successfully deenergized, allowing safe cleaning to proceed.

To ensure that future QWRAP projects address this risk the QWRAP Coordinator (George Bourne and Associates) has made changes to the technical specifications requiring future contractors to take actions to address the EME risk.

To increase industry risk management around the project, qldwater has undertaken further detailed analysis of the reservoir cleaning project.
Hotensia, a JCU postgrad student who completed an internship at qldwater, has been digging through condition assessment reports to deliver two key reports, one focusing on the seven reservoirs that couldn’t be accessed and another covering broader EME concerns across the region.
When completed these reports will be shared with QWRAP regions and qldwater members across the State.