Water Infrastructure Group site engineer for the project Kallard Ross said that the twin suction mains have a length of around 180 metres each and are of mainly 1,500 mm cast iron pipe.

“We are replacing the entire cement mortar lining. We are also fabricating and installing new cut-in access sections for each of the mains.

“The Ryde pump station supplies drinking water to the majority of Northern Sydney so it is important that we keep the pumping station operational. Pumps are taken off line and double isolation is provided for the main in which work is being carried out.

“We are working on one main at a time and the work is planned to be undertaken from midday to 7 pm,” Mr Ross said.

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The West Ryde Pumping Station was built in 1890 and at the time was the largest water pumping station in Australia. It was considered the most important pumping station in the Sydney Water system and was the only one with a Grade 1 Pumping Engineer in charge.

Up until the 1970s, the pumps were powered by steam produced in a large boiler house next to the pumping station. The three boilers were fired by coal delivered to the site by train and fed into the boiler house by gravity conveyor belts.

Rehabilitation work commenced in February this year and should be completed by the end of the year.