THE Perth Hills water crisis group continues to push for long-term solutions to water supply issues in Chidlow and Wooroloo following their state parliament grievance hearing in May.

At the time, six Chidlow properties were confirmed to receive water tank and pump system installations with costs covered by Water Corporation as reported in Water Corp to cover Chidlow water supply fixes (Echo News, May 30).

That number has now grown to 13 households to be supported, with up to $20,000 per property for makeshift water systems and classifying the service as non-standard.

Pressure monitoring revealed some Chidlow homes received water pressure as low as 7.5m head (a unit measuring the pressure exerted by a column of water at the given height) which is below the minimum of 15m standard with one property recording negative pressure.

Perth Hills water crisis group member Roberta Selleck said the compensation was welcome, but the cause of the water issues needed addressing and short-term solutions weren’t good enough.

“The Water Corporation’s recent commitment to assist 13 Chidlow properties with tanks and pumps is a welcome start but far from a complete solution,” she said.

“Residents across the Perth Hills are calling for a long-term fix with strong support for a community wide upgrade voiced at a July 24 town hall meeting.”

An e-petition for the Legislative Council was posted on June 23 asking for urgent intervention by the Water Corporation and the Water Minister Don Punch to restore consistent, reliable water supply to Chidlow, Wooroloo and Mundaring.

“We request that the Legislative Council demand the Water Corporation address the cause of the water supply problem, restore standard supply to affected residents, and withdraw all 35 non-standard water service agreements,” the e-petition said.

Non-standard water agreements are acknowledgements from residents that fluctuations in water pressure are a known and expected condition included in their water service.

Residents who agreed to receive aid from Water Corporation to install pumps and tanks were also required to agree into a non-standard water agreement as part of the process.

Mrs Selleck said the agreement abrogated Water Corporation responsibility for the standards of the service being supplied and residents were concerned it would preclude the area from long-term infrastructural fixes.

The e-petition also called for the Water Minister to seek immediate funding to support a long-term solution that addresses current water supply issues and future development across the affected hills communities.

Kalamunda MLA Adam Hort welcomed the acknowledgement but said it fell short of a long-term solution.

“While compensation for affected homes is a small step forward, it is a patch-up job, not a plan,” he said.

“The (state government) must now deliver a real long-term and community-wide fix.”

According to the Perth Hills water crisis group, residents have been raising the issue for years, but investigations only began in earnest after pressure loggers revealed significant drops during peak times earlier this year.

Mrs Selleck, who has lived in Chidlow since 1982, said political pressure and a formal complaint to the Ombudsman were necessary before Water Corporation acknowledged the issue.

Echo News first reported on the Chidlow water pressure issue in Residents say water not pumping enough in Chidlow on January 31 after residents reported worsening conditions.

At the time, Water Corporation said the issue appeared to be intermittent and not widespread, but further testing revealed systemic low pressure in some areas.

Water Corporation has since apologised to those impacted and said dedicated case managers were working with affected households.

The crisis group is calling on collaborative work, through the e-petition, between the Water Minister, Water Corporation and residents to develop lasting, community-informed solutions.

As of August 6, the e-petition has garnered 187 signatures and will close on September 29.

Perth Hills residents may access the e-petition via tinyurl.com/2t9zfhke