Candowie Dam

{{Short description|Dam and reservoir near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Candowie Dam | name_official = | image = Candowie Reservoir from Grantville Glen Alvie Rd looking East.jpg | image_size = 240 | image_caption = The reservoir in 2021 | image_alt = | location_map = Victoria | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam and reservoir in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-38.457235|145.571809|region:AU-VIC_type:landmark_source:GNS-enwiki|display=it|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[Melbourne|Greater Metropolitan Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]] | purpose = W | status = O | construction_began = | opening = 1963 | demolished = | cost = | builder = {{ubl|McDonald Construction|[[Thiess Pty Ltd|Thiess]]}} | designed_by = | owner = | operator = Westernport Water | dam_type = E | dam_crosses = {{ubl|[[Tennant Creek]]|[[Off-stream reservoir|''Off-stream'']]}} | dam_height_foundation = {{cvt|17|m}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|160|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|41|e3m3}} | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_length = | spillway_capacity = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | spillway_type2 = | spillway_length2 = | spillway_capacity2 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | spillway_type3 = | spillway_length3 = | spillway_capacity3 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | res_name = Candowie Reservoir | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|4463|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive = | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|59|m}} | res_tidal_range = | lower_dam_type = | lower_dam_crosses = | lower_dam_height_foundation = | lower_dam_height_thalweg = | lower_dam_length = | lower_dam_elevation_crest = | lower_dam_width_crest = | lower_dam_width_base = | lower_dam_volume = | lower_spillway_count = | lower_spillway_type = | lower_spillway_length = | lower_spillway_capacity = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | lower_spillway_type2 = | lower_spillway_length2 = | lower_spillway_capacity2 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | lower_spillway_type3 = | lower_spillway_length3 = | lower_spillway_capacity3 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | lower_res_name = | lower_res_capacity_total = | lower_res_capacity_active = | lower_res_capacity_inactive = | lower_res_catchment = | lower_res_surface = | lower_res_max_length = | lower_res_max_width = | lower_res_max_depth = | lower_res_elevation = | lower_res_tidal_range = | plant_name = | plant_coordinates =  | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_turbines = | plant_pumpgenerators = | plant_pumps = | plant_capacity = | plant_capacity_factor = | plant_efficiency = | plant_storage_hours = | plant_annual_gen = | plant_annual_gen_year = | website = {{url|https://www.westernportwater.com.au/products-services/water/sources/|westernportwater.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }} The '''Candowie Dam''' is an [[embankment dam]] across [[Tennant Creek]], located in [[Almurta, Victoria|Almurta]], a small settlement approximately {{convert|105|km}} southeast of the [[Melbourne central business district]], in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], Australia. Completed in 1963, the resultant [[reservoir]], the '''Candowie Reservoir''', was established to [[water supply|supply]] [[potable water]] to the area, and is the main source of water for [[Phillip Island]].

The dam and reservoir are co-located with a [[water treatment plant]] and they are the only dam operated by Westernport Water.<ref name=Allum/>

== Dam and reservoir overview == Tennent Creek is the main supply for the Candowie Reservoir, with additional [[Off-stream reservoir|pumped supply]] from the [[Bass River (Victoria)|Bass River]], a pipe connection to [[Cardinia Reservoir]], and boreholes in [[Corinella]], via the Corinella Aquifer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westernportwater.com.au/products-services/water/sources/ |title=Sources: Candowie Reservoir |work=Western Port Water |date=2020 |access-date=2026-05-18 }}</ref>

The [[Embankment dam#Earth-fill dams|earth-]] and [[rock-filled dam]] wall is {{convert|17|m}} high and {{convert|160|m}} long. When full, the resultant reservoir has a storage capacity of {{convert|4463|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|55|ha}}. The [[Spillway#Types|uncontrolled spillway]] has a discharge capacity of {{convert|131|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 79}}</ref>

At the time of the dam's construction in 1963, the capacity of the reservoir was {{convert|1037|ML|acre.ft}}. In 1978, the spillway was raised {{convert|1.68|m}} and the [[parapet]] wall was raised by {{convert|1.7|m}}, with a resultant increase in capacity to {{convert|1761|ML|acre.ft}}. The spillway was raised another {{convert|0.8|m}} in 1982, with a resultant increase in capacity to {{convert|2263|ML|acre.ft}} Following a two-year [[Drought in Australia|drought]] period in 2006–2007 where storage levels dipped to just 7 per cent of capacity, further works were completed in 2013 to increase the reservoir's storage capacity to its current levels.<ref>{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617224822/https://www.westernportwater.com.au/candowie-reservoir-to-double-in-size/ |archive-date=2024-06-17 |url-status=dead |url=https://www.westernportwater.com.au/candowie-reservoir-to-double-in-size/ |title=Candowie Reservoir to double in size |date=February 7, 2013 |website=Westernport Water}}</ref><ref name=Allum>{{cite report |author1=Allum, Geoffrey |author2=Jayasena, Chaminda |url=https://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ANCOLD-Candowie-Article-JOK-Reviewed-170913.pdf |title=Westernport Water - Candowie Reservoir Upgrade Project (CUP) – The Story So Far |work=e-News: News from Victoria |date=September 2013 |access-date=2026-05-18 |publisher=[[ANCOLD]] }}</ref>

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Victoria|Water}}}} * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Victoria|List of reservoirs and dams in Victoria]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{cite web |url=https://www.westernportwater.com.au/products-services/water/sources/ |title=Sources: Candowie Reservoir |work=Western Port Water |date=2020 |access-date=2026-05-18 }}

[[Category:1963 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Bass Coast Shire]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1963]] [[Category:Dams in Victoria (state)]] [[Category:Earth-filled dams]] [[Category:Phillip Island]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Victoria (state)]] [[Category:Rock-filled dams]]