Narromine is a growing township with a population of 3507(ABS/2021) that lies 40km west of the regional city of Dubbo on the banks of the Macquarie River. The township is the centre of many high intensity agricultural industries as well as having a large-scale gold mine located in the LGA at the Village of Tomingley. Despite being located on the river and being the centre of a major irrigation system, the town relies totally on groundwater as its source of Drinking Water.

However, the aquifer is not contained and is potentially contaminated by:

• current and abandoned bores on private land that are not sealed
• sewage treatment effluent including that from onsite systems
• livestock grazing in the catchment

Narromine was assessed under the NSW Safe and Secure Water Risk Rating Framework as having a Level 5 ERIL risk score for water quality due to Cryptosporidium risk. The Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Strategy Issues Paper (PWA, 2023) identified there was a very high risk of chlorine resistant pathogens in the drinking water as there are currently no treatment barriers to control these pathogens.

Narromine Shire Council (NSC) successfully completed a DCCEEW endorsed Options Study in 2024 to consider means of resolving these risks. This Scope of works is intended as a guideline for the preparation of a Concept Design to enable movement to a Detailed Design and Tender for construction of a 7.5 ML per day Water Treatment Plant.