Lake Julius Pumping System Upgrade
Mt Isa, Queensland
The Lake Julius Pumping System delivers water from Lake Julius to Clear Water Lagoon adjacent to Lake Moondarra in Mount Isa. The system consists of approximately 70 km of mild steel pipeline with pump stations at Lake Julius (Fred Haigh Pump Station) and at an intermediate location (the 22.6 km pump station). Water supply from Lake Julius provides an alternative source of water supply for the city of Mount Isa and the surrounding mines. In case of drought and loss of supply from Lake Moondarra, the water from Lake Julius provides the sole source of supply.
The flow rate of the Lake Julius Pumping System (currently 780 L/s) is insufficient to meet current and projected water demands, and the Mount Isa Water Board is undertaking an upgrade of the delivery rate.
Maunsell undertook detailed investigations to identify infrastructure requirements for staged upgrades to the Lake Julius Pumping System.
The first investigation identified and costed options for a short term flow rate increase to 916 L/s, as well as for the more extensive upgrades required to achieve much higher flow rates of 1366 L/s and 1728 L/s.
A subsequent investigation considered in detail options and infrastructure requirements for an upgrade to 1190 L/s, which is the greatest flow rate possible without installation of a second intermediate pump station. The investigation phase services comprised option identification, hydraulic modelling (steady state and transient), concept design, economic assessment and cost estimation.
Maunsell also undertook the detailed design and documentation and tender procurement of the initial upgrade to 916 L/s. Works involved in this upgrade included modifications to the electrical and control system at Fred Haigh Pump Station to provide for parallel pump operation, installation of 3 km of DN750 mild steel pipeline in parallel with an existing DN600 pipeline, and replacement of section of DN450 pipeline with DN750 pipeline.
Maunsell prepared and procured contracts for the pipeline construction,electrical and control modifications, and pipe supply, and provided construction supervision and contract administration for two of the contracts.
