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Wellington Dam is recognised by both the Government and the Water Corporation as a potential drinking water source for the State.

To further investigate the opportunities for Wellington, the Government formed an independent five-person Committee (the Collie-Wellington Basin Steering Committee) in 2006.  It was chaired by Mr Ross Kelly, Chairman of the Water Reform Implementation Committee.

This Committee considered a range of initiatives for sustainable irrigation, regional industrial water supply and drinking water that might be used as part of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme.

The Committee's report was released in May 2007 and highlights that the development of Wellington Dam as a drinking water source is complex, with issues including water use by irrigators, environmental water requirements, water quality, reforestation, groundwater use and climate change.  The report is available from the Department of Water.

Facts and history of the dam

Wellington Dam has a capacity of 186GL.

The dam was built in 1933 to provide water to the Great Southern Town Water Supply Scheme and to provide water for farm irrigation.