Victorian Town of 900 Gets Drinking Water After 100 Years

After more than 100 years of collecting rainwater and using undrinkable bore water, the 900 residents of Kaniva, Victoria can finally turn on their taps for a glass of clean water.

The western Victorian town, located 114 kilometers west of Horsham, connected to the Dimboola Water Treatment Plant on June 26. It was the largest town in the state without a drinkable mains water supply.

For teacher Dylan Feduniw, who moved to Kaniva in 2020, the lack of drinking water came as a shock. "The water in some parts of the town had a bit of a smell to it and was definitely not drinkable," he said.

He quickly became an advocate for change, thinking especially of residents with few rainwater tanks. "In the summer it's quite warm and dry, and it would have been pretty hard going for a lot of these people," Feduniw said.

Butcher Bob Bones is already seeing benefits for his business. Before the connection, he spent $400 yearly testing rainwater for food safety requirements.

The new water also makes cleaning easier. "For cleaning the glass and stainless steel, it doesn't leave a residue," Bones said, explaining that the old hard water left mineral stains everywhere.

The Ripple Effect

The change reaches beyond individual households. Families who struggled during dry spells no longer need to purchase drinking water when their tanks run low.

Caravan park manager Taryn Carter sees the biggest impact on park residents who relied on bore water. "A lot of them had to cart their own water and buy their own water," she said. "But now it'll be heaps easier for them."

While some residents worry about water bills potentially doubling, Feduniw focuses on the community gain. "If we're healthier as a community, if we have water as a community, if we can all turn to the tap and fill up our drink bottles, then I think that as a town we will be better for it," he said.

Residents connected to the old bore system automatically receive the new drinkable supply, while those on rainwater can choose to switch. Former Lions Club president Malcolm Eastwood acknowledges the adjustment period ahead but remains optimistic about the town's future with this essential service finally in place.