Mount Crosby Pumping Station facts for kids

Pumping engine at the Mount Crosby waterworks, 1892

The Mount Crosby Pumping Station is located on the Brisbane River in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located on both sides of the river at Mount Crosby on the east bank and at Chuwar on the west bank. The facility supplies water to Brisbane and nearby cities and towns within the SEQ Water Grid. It is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.

History

Brisbane's water supply during the convict era came from a reservoir in present-day Tank Street in the Brisbane central business district. There was no pipe network; the water was delivered by water carts to households who stored their water in barrels. The water was described as having "a pea-soup colour and consistency" which required the householders to add wood ashes or alum to their water barrels to precipitate the yellow sediments. On establishment of the Brisbane Municipal Council in 1859, one of their first tasks was to plan a better water supply for the growing town.

The Mount Crosby pumping station was originally steam-powered. Coal was transported via a tramway to fire the boilers to create the steam that drove the pumping engines; the tramway was originally created for construction purposes. 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.

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

Geography

There is a single lane bridge over the Mount Crosby Weir enabling easy access between the two sites; it is also a public road.

Operation

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

There are two intakes pipes, one on each bank. The pipes are protected by a 25 millimetres (0.98 in) 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 Plant. Treated water from both Water Treatment Plants is pumped to two 90 megalitres (3.2×10^⁶ cu ft) reservoirs at Cameron's Hill.

Westbank Water Treatment Plant is able to generate 250 megalitres (8.8×10^⁶ cu ft) of drinking water each day. During periods of high demand the amount can be increased four-fold to 1,000 megalitres (35×10^⁶ cu ft). The process takes about 24 hours to convert.

Eastbank Water Treatment Plant is able to generate 850 megalitres (30×10^⁶ cu ft) of drinking water each day.

Images for kids

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  Kholo main pipeline being laid, Brisbane River at Mount Crosby, 1922

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  Tram weighbridge and cabin, Westbank (Chuwar), 2019

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  Engine House, from southwest, 2019

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  Office, Generator, and Workshop Building, 2019

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  Works Hill looking toward the Community Hall with the Recreation Area on the right hand side, 2019

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  Fireman's Duplex, No. 105 and 106, 2019

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  Second Engineer's House, 2019

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  Mt. Crosby Weir, western approach