Mount Crosby Pumping Station

Pumping engine at the Mount Crosby waterworks, 1892

The Mount Crosby Pumping Station is located on the Brisbane River at Chuwar in the City of Ipswich. The facility supplies water to Brisbane and nearby cities and towns within the SEQ Water Grid. The pumping station is close to the Mount Crosby Weir and sits on the east bank of the river.

Most of the water treated is sourced from Lake Wivenhoe and Lockyer Creek via the Brisbane River, though some is also from Lake Manchester.^[1]

There are two intakes pipes, one on each bank.^[2] The pipes are protected by a 25 mm mesh screen which stops material such as leaves and sticks from entering the plant. The water from the Pumping Station is supplied to the Eastbank Water Treatment Plant. An additional smaller pumping station sits on the west bank to supply the Westbank Water Treatment Palnt. Treated water from both Water Treatment Plants is pumped to two 90 million litre reservoirs at Cameron’s Hill.^[2]

History

The pumping station was once powered by coal via a tramway. The tramway was originally used for construction purposes.^[3] The facility originally pumped untreated water from the north or eastern bank of the River. To cater for increased demand the Westbank Water Treatment Plant was built in 1986.^[2]

Westbank Water Treatment Plant is able to generate 250 million litres of drinking water each day.^[2] During periods of high demand the amount can be increased four-fold to 1,000 million litres. The process takes about 24 hours to convert.

Eastbank Water Treatment Plant is able to generate 850 million litres of drinking water each day.

During the January 2013 Eastern Australia floods both treatment plants were unable to process Brisbane River water because it was too muddy and filled with silt.^[4]

See also

• SEQ Water Grid

Notes

External links

• History of Mt Crosby via the Wayback Machine

Coordinates: 27°32′14″S 152°47′52″E / 27.53722°S 152.79778°E / -27.53722; 152.79778