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1954
WALL and spillway of the Rylstone Dam on the Cudgegong River, which was completed last week. The engineer - in - charge, Mr. W. K. Pilz, is standing on the wall parapet. Opposite is shown the wall walk giving access to the trunion-pipe outlet. The new dam, with a 707- million gallons storage capacity, will provide a town water supply for Rylstone, Kandos and Charbon.
5 March 1954
New Dam at Rylstone
Waters Three Towns
By Our Special Representative.
COMPLETION of the Rylstone Dam, on the Cudgegong River last week is a milestone in the history of one of the State's dry areas.
The new dam has a 707 million gallon storage capacity, and will provide a town water supply for Rylstone, Kandos, and Charbon.
It filled to spill-over point on February 16 when the district received seven inches of rain.
But, tantalisingly for the residents who have suffered periodic water shortages every summer, the new dam cannot operate until electrical transmission lines to the three pumping stations have been completed.
The pumping stations are at the dam site, at Rylstone, and at Kandos, and are complete.
Tenders have been called for the electrical installations.
It is expected to be only a few months before the pipelines to the three towns will be operating.
The dam, which was started in 1949, has employed up to 40 men.
The barracks, mess and offices are now deserted.
The engineer-in-charge, Mr. W. K. Pilz, left last Saturday to take up an appointment at Hume Reservoir, where the dam face is being lifted.
Waters of the new Rylstone Dam back up for 3½ miles, covering an area of 187 acres to a depth of 47 feet at the wall-face.
The wall itself, which is of reinforced concrete on quartz prophry rock formations, is 68 ft. in depth, 42 ft. of which is visible at the spillway, and 26 ft. below the base.
It is estimated that at an average annual consumption rate of 60 million gallons, the present water stored is sufficient to last more than 10 years1
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