Note that the Stop Time/Date is the time at which EICL staff will shut off the Main offtake and the pump stations. Up until then, supply is guaranteed. Taking water after the Stop Time/Date assists EICL to drain the relevant channel pools/storages, rather than that water being wasted through the scours into the creeks etc. Therefore, irrigators are welcome to take water beyond that time, but supply is not guaranteed. For example, if only a few are taking that water, it may last for 24 hours – if many are taking water, it may be gone in a couple of hours.
Once the channel pools/storages are drained to a sufficient level the EICL staff will shut off all the lateral/pipeline offtakes. By this time most irrigators would not be able to get water anyway as the levels would be too low.
The Acrolein is then injected into the storages and sections of the channel as water is released into them. The incoming water ensures that the chemical is thoroughly mixed and that slug of water flows to the bottom of the section. This is isolated from irrigators by the closing of the lateral/pipeline offtakes mentioned previously. The exception to this is the irrigator offtakes that come directly off the channel – these need to be closed off by the irrigator to prevent acrolein laced water flowing onto their farm.
Closedown Schedule for Period Monday 5th January to Saturday 10th January 2026
| Planned Resumption of Supply for Agricultural Customers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reticulation Area | Stop Time | Stop Date | Acrolein Start Date/Time | Restart Time | Restart Date | |
| OMC (1-13) | 7:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 6:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 7:00 | Thu 8th Jan |
| Brightley (14-54A) | 7:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 9:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 17:00 | Thu 8th Jan |
| Abingdon (501-515) | 11:00 | Mon 5th Jan | ||||
| OMC (67-95B) | 17:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 17:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 7:00 | Fri 9th Jan |
| Vic Plains (401 - 482) | 7:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 7:00 | Wed 7th Jan | 17:00 | Fri 9th Jan |
| Oakenden Relift(127-137C)) | 13:30 | Mon 5th Jan | ||||
| OMC (96-140) | 17:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 17:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 17:00 | Fri 9th Jan |
| OMC (140A – 161) | 7:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 7:00 | Wed 7th Jan | 17:00 | Sat 10th Jan |
| OMC (156A – 165) | 7:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 6:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 17:00 | Sat 10th Jan |
| Mt.Alice (301 – 385) | 9:30 | Mon 5th Jan | ||||
| OMC (165A – 181) Marwood (183 – 260) & (390A – 398) Munbura (261 – 299A) |
17:00 | Mon 5th Jan | 6:00 | Tue 6th Jan | 7:00 | Sat 10th Jan |
Mt Alice Reticulation is off line for a longer period, as the storage has to be treated prior to dewatering the channel. The channel must then be refilled in order to re-instate the pump station.