Quality of Life
At Icon Water, we celebrate the many ways that life is enriched by water, not just to survive but to flourish. Our part in this is to provide high quality water and sewerage services but it is more than that. We have a proud history being part of the community, in this section you can explore what that means to us and the role we play in enhancing life.
[{"url":"geodesic-domes.jpg","alt":"geodesic inspired dome tents at the Cotter Reserve","caption":"The ConFest, alternative lifestyle festival was first held at the Cotter Reserve in 1976. This image shows part of the dome village erected onsite for the festival ~i~(image courtesy of the ACT Heritage Library)~i~."},{"url":"ceramic-bowl-cotter-painting.jpg","alt":"1950's lolly bowl with painting of the Cotter Dam","caption":"The Cotter Dam features on this lolly bowl from the 1950s by Sydney art studio Studio Anna."},{"url":"chevrolet-car-at-the-cotter.jpg","alt":"group of people in an old chevrolet car drivng to the Cotter Dam","caption":"From the time that the construction road was opened to build the original Cotter Dam, the area became a popular recreation spot for Canberrans. This image shows a picnic party in Chevrolet roadster on the road to the Cotter in 1926 ~i~(Image credit: Picnic party in Chevrolet roadster on the road to the Cotter, Australian Capital Territory, National Archives of Australia: A3560, 2563)~i~."},{"url":"fishing-cotter.jpg","alt":"man fly fishing at the Cotter Dam","caption":"A fisherman fly casting in to the water below the original Cotter Dam wall in 1929 ~i~(Image credit: Cotter Dam Wall and stilling pond. Fisherman fly casting into the pond, 1929, National Archives of Australia: A3560, 6004)~i~."},{"url":"swimming-casuarina-sands.jpg","alt":"people swimming and socialising at Casuarina Sands","caption":"Attendees at the Trades and Labour picnic at Casuarina Sands in 1949 ~i~(Image credit: Attendees at the Trades and Labour picnic at Casuarina Sands in 1949, National Archives of Australia: A1200, L11808)~i~."},{"url":"running-race-at-the-cotter.jpg","alt":"women linning up for a running race at the Cotter Dam","caption":"Four women preparing for a footrace at a picnic in the Cotter reserve in the 1920s ~i~(Image credit: Four women preparing for a footrace at a picnic in the Cotter reserve in the 1920s P.J. Phillips, National Library of Australia,vn4300584)~i~."}]Recreation at the Cotter
The Cotter area has been a popular recreational spot for Canberrans for generations.
The Cotter area has been a popular recreational spot for Canberrans for generations. The connection people feel to this area is unwavering. The Cotter River is also where three of Canberra’s four water storage dams are located. This gallery contains a selection of images showcasing recreation at the Cotter over the years.
[{"url":"water-supply-process-from-dam-to-Googong-plant-to-tap.png","alt":"flow-chart detailing water process from dom, to Googong Water Treatment Plant, through to the tap","caption":"The journey water takes from the water storage dam to Googong Water Treatment Plant through to customers’ taps."},{"url":"water-supply-process-from-dam-to-Stromlo-plant-to-tap.png","alt":"flow-chart detailing water process from dom, to Stromlo Water Treatment Plant, through to the tap","caption":"The journey water takes from the water storage dam to Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant through to customers’ taps."},{"url":"googong-water-treatment-plant.jpg","alt":"Googong Water Treatment Plant","caption":"Googong Water Treatment Plant in 1979."},{"url":"stromlo-construction-building.jpg","alt":"Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant under construction","caption":"Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant under construction in 1967."},{"url":"stromlo-construction.jpg","alt":"Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant under construction","caption":"Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant under construction in 1967."}]Treatment of water
Icon Water treatment process.
The water that flows in the Cotter River is very high quality but Icon Water still needs to ensure that it is treated to the utmost standard to ensure safety, quality and adherence to the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines.
To ensure the quality of the water, it is treated at one of our two water treatment plants at Mt Stromlo and Googong.
[{"url":"father-and-son-watering-garden.jpg","alt":"father and son water their garden using watering cans","caption":""}]Saving water Canberra style
Water restrictions – Canberra’s response (water conservation)
The Millenium drought saw Canberra’s water levels drop to unprecedentedly low levels. Storage levels dropped significantly and a large investment was made in capital works projects (including the Enlarged Cotter Dam) to secure the future water supply of Canberra. In addition to this, water restrictions were brought in and the response from Canberrans was amazing.
When water restrictions began in November 2006, water usage peaked at 266.6ML. Water use of this magnitude was not seen again until the summer of 2013/14 when water use reached 272ML. This is a testament to the water saving abilities of Canberrans.
Following the discontinuation of water restrictions and the implementation of permanent water conservation measures, Canberrans are still using their water very wisely and not wasting this precious resource.
As the largest inland city in Australia, water will always be a precious resource but with the successful enlargement of the Cotter Dam and the extra security brought by projects such as the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer and the Tantangara Transfer, Canberra’s water future is looking a lot more secure.
Did you know…
Even though Canberra is not currently under water restrictions, we have a set of commonsense water use guidelines called Permanent Water Conservation Measures that remain in place.
[{"url":"flourish-diagram.png","alt":"diagram detailing Icon Water's sponsorship and community support values","caption":"Our sponsorship and community support values."},{"url":"ANBG-summer-concert-audience.jpg","alt":"people listening to music at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) Summer Concert Series","caption":"The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) run the Summer Concert Series. The concert series has been developed as a community event to draw Canberrans and their guests to the Australian National Botanic Gardens to enjoy a music program held over four successive weekends in January. The concerts are run by ‘the Friends of the ANBG’ with help from the ANBG, and involve live music, outdoor picnicking, socialising and dancing on the iconic Eucalypt Lawn."},{"url":"ANBG-summer-concert.jpg","alt":"people dancing at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) Summer Concert Series","caption":"The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) Summer Concert Series promotes and encourages participation and engagement, and enhances community wellbeing and pride which is directly relevant to Icon Water's sponsorship values."},{"url":"canberra-cavalry-baseball-team-meeting-children.jpg","alt":"children meeting players from the Canberra Cavalry baseball team","caption":"Icon Water have been a sponsor of Menslink for some years now, as a community support sponsorship.\nIcon Water are now considered a primary funding partner, providing financial support to all three Menslink programs – counselling, volunteer mentoring and the Silence is Deadly suicide prevention campaign. These programs support hundreds of young men and their families directly, and thousands indirectly through our schools’ campaigns each year. Menslink have been provided with opportunities to engage with another of our sponsorships, the Canberra Cavalry baseball team."},{"url":"relay-for-life-icon.jpg","alt":"people walking at the Relay for Life with the Icon Water logo in the foreground","caption":"Icon Water staff laced up their runners and participated in the Cancer Council Relay for Life. In addition to the physical efforts, approximately $2,600 has been raised for the runners and donations are still rolling in.\nThe money will go towards much-needed research and programs. Through funds raised at Relay for Life, more than 61,000 Australian lives have been saved over the last 20 years. Improvements in cancer prevention and screening mean that less people will hear the words, \"you have cancer\". Advances to cancer treatments allow cancer patients to spend more time with their loved ones. The support our Icon Water staff offered in donations and kind has played an important part in this."},{"url":"twitter-icon-water.jpg","alt":"Twitter tweets from Icon Water about water","caption":"Icon Water proudly supported the RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2015 – World Guinness Challenge. Icon Water supported the event and kept dogs hydrated for the day handing out Icon Water dog bottles, these were well received in the Canberra community. We look forward to supporting the RSPCA in future events."}]Supporting the community
Icon Water and its predecessors have a long history supporting the community.
Icon Water and its predecessors have a long history supporting the community through our sponsorship and community support program. This gallery contains a selection of images showcasing some of our current sponsorship partners.
[{"url":"1999-staff-photo.jpg","alt":"ACTEW Corporation staff portraits from 1999","caption":"Over the years, the professionals who work to supply water and sewerage services to Canberra have lent their expertise to a range of overseas projects to assist in Cambodia, Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Although these projects have not been undertaken in a number of years, the experiences were valued very highly by staff and the communities at the time."}]Reaching out – overseas assistance
Recreation upgrade of Casuarina Sands
When undertaking something as big as building the Englarged Cotter Dam, there are a lot of things you need to consider beyond the design and construction of the project. The Cotter area is a prime recreation area for the people of Canberra and the Enlarged Cotter Dam project meant closing access to some of that recreation space during construction. Take a look back to 2009 in this video and see what was done to neighbouring Casuarina Sands to ensure that great recreation opportunities still existed.
What is Lower Molonglo?
It is hard to imagine what life would be like if we lacked centralised sewage treatment. After several different approaches to sewage treatment in the ACT, the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre was built in 1978. This video outlines how the plant operates and the role it plays in enhancing our quality of life.