Essential Water is optimising the Broken Hill Water Treatment Plant, reducing raw water quality variations by automating chemical dosing and flow rates using instantaneous water quality analysis. The program is scheduled for completion during 2025–26.

During 2023–24, Essential Water supported WaterNSW in an oxygen injection system trial at Menindee, as a solution for inconsistent water quality, following low dissolved oxygen levels in the Darling River that increased the risk to marine life.

Designs for a replacement Wastewater Treatment Plant for Broken Hill are well developed and expected to be completed in November 2024. The $75 million preliminary construction estimate is more than double the original $30 million estimate in 2019, due to an increase in construction costs. Construction is expected to commence in early 2025.

During the year, five electric vehicles (EVs) were introduced to Essential Water’s vehicle fleet, with six in-house charging points installed. The EVs replaced diesel four-wheel drive vehicles, a major step for the fleet transition initiative.

Customers experienced average rainfall and average temperatures across 2023–24.

In 2023–24 Essential Water delivered 5,259ML of potable water to customers, an increase of 659ML compared with the previous year. Delivery of raw water rose by 213ML to 1,008ML.

The Operational Works Program included:

• 1,345 metres of water mains renewed
• 29,736 metres of sewer mains rodded
• 18 main bursts repaired
• 501ML extracted from Stephens Creek Reservoir.

During 2023–24 we received 5,162 customer calls, including 12 customer complaints, which were all responded to according to our customer enquiries response processes.

Essential Water’s profit before interest and tax was $5.4 million, against a target loss of $2.7 million. This result was driven by:

• depreciation and impairment favourable $22 million due to the capital program below budget delivery
• corporate charges unfavourable $13.9 million due to the capital program below budget delivery
• operating expenditure favourable $2.2 million due to lower bulk water supply agreement (BWSA) expenses ($1.2 million), lower contractor charges ($0.7 million) predominantly due to project delays, and a $0.3 million benefit from travel related accrual adjustments.

Essential Water invested $4.4 million on capital programs in 2023-24. This was $21.4 million¹ below target due to delays to two major projects. The Graziers Pipeline has been delayed due to findings from an Aboriginal Heritage Survey. A new route and design will be required. For the replacement Wastewater Treatment Plant for Broken Hill, the design has been delayed due to complications with surveys and design optimisation.

1. The submitted and published PDF for the Essential Energy Annual Report 2023-24 incorrectly states that capital investment by Essential Water during 2023-24 was $25.8 million. The correct figure, $21.4 million, is provided on this web page.

Essential Water has 63 full time equivalent employees (as of 30 June 2024). During the year, nine new employees joined Essential Water across all business areas. Succession planning and recruitment remain a key focus, as around 25 per cent of the Essential Water workforce is aged over 60 years.

Other information relating to Essential Water is consolidated into relevant sections of this Essential Energy Annual Report.