South Gippsland Water is injecting $30 million to renew water infrastructure across the Victorian region.

This will be focused on four projects, with the goal to boost asset performance and improve environmental conditions.

“We will be renewing water filters to improve water quality in Foster and Toora, and at (the) Meeniyan wastewater treatment plant we are adding a facility to remove phosphorous prior to discharge. This will improve Stony Creek’s water quality,” South Gippsland Water managing director Robert Murphy said.

The utility will also complete a chemical dosing upgrade at the Leongatha wastewater treatment plant “to improve the system’s ability to digest sludge and reduce odour”. This will be supported by a new 16-megalitre emergency storage lagoon to capture any spills during storm events.

A new screen will also be developed at the Leongatha plant “to help us continue to keep wipes out of pipes”.

“It’s a timely reminder that only toilet paper should be flushed down toilets,” Murphy said.

Murphy said this investment would benefit South Gippsland customers, communities and the environment.

“It helps us deliver on what you’ve told us you want from us – reliable and secure water and wastewater services,” he said. “It is an investment in the future of our region.”

In December, South Gippsland Water announced it was taking proactive steps to strengthen the reliability of water supply in Leongatha and Koonwarra.

This includes constructing an 8.5km-long temporary above-ground pipeline to transfer water from disused Korumburra reservoirs to Leongatha storage.

This comes amid below-average rainfall for the region over the past 12 to 24 months.

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