Riverina Water treatment flow cuts off road to West Wagga homes

Smaller cars are being cut off from Roach Road as daily water releases flow too deep across the McNickel Road intersection from the West Wagga Water Treatment Plant at Moorong.

A Riverina Water spokesperson said the water releases were an essential part of the plant's cleaning processes but the authority is looking at alternatives.

Riverview Drive resident Jemma Hogg said her 17-year-old daughter was having trouble crossing McNickel Road with her small hatchback to access the Roach Road route to the family home.

"The water rises to the point where you actually need to have a four-wheel-drive to cross," Mrs Hogg said.

"My daughter is getting stranded and having to leave her car at the intersection because she can't get across in her little car.

"Quite often we have had visitors and they can't get their cars across. From 9am to 3pm the treatment plant flushes water and it's usually gone by 5pm."

The water flows down the open roadside drain over the McNickel Road intersection where there is no culvert.

Multiple residents say the constant flooding is also increasing wear and tear on the road and leaving large potholes that cannot be spotted and avoided when they are covered in water.

"I have quite a low car and we are experiencing water up to the door level at times," Riverview Drive resident Jessie McCabe said.

"I have also had the plastic casing under the front of the car damaged by potholes caused by the water."

Wagga City Council complete repairs to the intersection this week but residents said the work was likely to soon be undone by trucks.

Mrs Hogg said the council should install a culvert as the road was susceptible to natural flooding as well as treatment water flows.

A Riverina Water spokesperson said water was being released into the McNickle Road drain only occasionally".

"Discharge into McNickle Road's storm water system reduced significantly at approximately 3pm Wednesday," the spokesperson said

"Work has already been completed to allow the use of alternate locations which reduces reliance of the McNickle Road discharge point.

"Unfortunately, the flushing of the last section of raw water mains before the treatment plant required use of the McNickle Road discharge point.

"The amount of water released is the result of our annual raw water main cleaning process which ensures compliance NSW Health drinking water requirements."

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