Project Profile
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) operates the Eastbourne Water System on Keats Island, where the existing aquifer is reliant on precipitation.
To improve the water supply to the system and to ensure a safe and sustainable drinking water source for their residents, ISL undertook a feasibility study for upgrades to the Eastbourne Water System. Through review of the existing operation and performance of the system, ISL made recommendations developed in collaboration with the SCRD for improved efficiency, pressures, distribution, and storage. ISL also provided recommendations for additional groundwater supply sources based on a desktop hydrogeological study of Keats Island. The recommendations were developed in collaboration with the SCRD to ensure they were feasible given the unique locale and requirements of Eastbourne. Feedback from Eastbourne residents was solicited via a mail-out compiled by ISL’s Community Engagement team. Further testing of an existing well was completed, and sustainable yield calculations proved that adding this well to the system was prudent.
We completed the drilling, installation, development, and testing of three new groundwater test wells. The locations were drilled and tested in late 2022 and early 2023, following archaeological and First Nations permitting, and was
conducted to allow for future licensing. The wells are viable to meet the low water demands of Eastbourne, so conceptual engineering of the pumps, well infrastructure, conveyance network, electrical requirements, and water treatment upgrades was completed. The work was presented to the SCRD board, and an online public engagement event was held.
Challenges
- Determining a realistic and attainable target volume to increase the water supply to Eastbourne.
Solutions
- A target demand of 0.54 L/s was chosen based on the future and existing maximum day demand. Although this amount would not provide residents with the same volumes of water as other SCRD systems, it would represent more than double the existing average available water supply. When compared to the existing available supply, a supply deficit of 0.30 L/s was calculated that represented a reasonable goal to be achieved by means of additional wells and storage options. The supply deficit was determined in partnership with the SCRD and communicated to Eastbourne residents as an attainable volume based on the hydrogeological conditions of Keats Island.
