AGY-1210 | Water Supply and Sewerage Branch [II] [Department of Public Works]

Full description

The Water Supply and Sewerage Branch [II] of the Department of Public Works was formed in December 1912. The rearrangement of the Department by the Director-General resulted in E M de Burgh, now Chief Engineer, Water Supply and Sewerage, relinquishing control of the Harbour Construction Works and taking over control of the Sewerage Branch in lieu thereof. (1)

The Water Supply and Sewerage Branch undertook a series of water supply construction works involving the establishment of steam pumping machinery, suction wells, rising mains and reticulation systems, and service reservoirs. Specific dams were also built while water filtration and supply schemes for country towns were evaluated.

Sewerage Construction and Stormwater Drainage included Ocean Outfall Sewers for Sydney, suburban sewerage schemes, and stormwater channel construction. Country Sewerage schemes and Stormwater Drainage facilities were also constructed. (2)

In 1968 the Water Supply and Sewerage Branch carried out the 'technical and administrative activities associated with the works of water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage throughout the State with the exception of the areas under the control of the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board in Sydney, the Hunter District Water Board in Newcastle, and the Broken Hill Water Board, comprising:

1. Water Supply and Sewerage Schemes
(a) the construction of works in country towns by day labour and by contract;
(b) supervision of works being constructed by Councils and by the Broken Hill Water Board and also technical advice to Councils in design, construction and operation of water supply and sewerage schemes;
(c) provision of services for State Institutions and Hospitals;
(d) investigation of schemes, augmentations and extensions in country towns, institutions and hospitals.

2. Water Supply Purification
The investigation, supervision of design, construction, installation and inspection of plant and equipment for the purification of trade wastes, domestic water supplies and bathing pools in country towns, institutions and hospitals and public schools.

3. Miscellaneous
(a) operation and maintenance of water supply works controlled by the Department;
(b) supervision of the mechanical and electrical activities in connection with water supply and sewerage constructions;
(c) investigation and supervision of installation for fluoridation of water supplies in conjunction with the Department of Public Health;
(d) construction, operation and maintenance of River Murray Works on behalf of the River Murray Commission;
(e) finalization of handover of stormwater drainage structures in the Newcastle and Metropolitan areas to the Water Boards; technical advice to Councils on stormwater drainage proposals outside the areas of operation of the Metropolitan and Newcastle Water Boards.' (3)

From 1969 the Branch became part of both the Investigation and Development Division and the Construction and Operations Division of the Civil Engineering Division. (4)

On 1 November 1976 the Water Supply and Sewerage Branch was split into the Water Supply Branch and the Sewerage Branch. (5)

References
Public Service List, 1913-1960.
Report of the Public Works Department for the year ended 30 June, 1913-1979.

Endnotes
(1) Public Service List, 1913, p.106; Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1913, p.41 in NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1913, Vol. 2, pp.844-845, 873.
(2) Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1913, pp.41-46 In NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1913 Vol. 2, pp.877-880.
(3) Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1968, p.33 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1968-69. Vol. 4, p.643.
(4) Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1969, pp.6-7 in NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1969-70-71. Vol. 7, pp.1254-1255.
(5) Report of the Public Works Department for the year ended 30 June, 1977, p.5; ibid., 1979, p.84.