Ararat district farmers now have access to a new standpipe at Norval that draws water from the Lake Fyans pipeline instead of the nearby dam.
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The old standpipe at Norval drew water from the dam, which earlier this year was near empty and facing environmental problems such as silt, causing issues for farmers and the County Fire Authority.
Farmers can now fill up tanks at the standpipe and charge it to their credit cards.
A separate outlet has also been installed for the Country Fire Authority during bushfire season.
Farmer James Brady said it was more than just Norval landowners who relied on the dam for water.
“You could have 30 or 40 people from Great Western or down near Mininera and Maroona,” he said.
“I know one bloke who came up from Armstrong to cart water.”
The pipeline will also help the dam remain full after a dry spell saw significantly low waters levels during the 2015-16 summer.
With farmers no long using it for water, it will once again provide a place for recreational fishing and swimming, particularly during the summer.
Mr Brady said the dam had a long history of recreational use.
“The dam had basically dried out, but people will now use it for recreational fishing as well,” he said.
“People come and swim here and yabbying here all the time.”
Ripon MP Louise Staley said there would always be water available for emergency services.
“Because there was no water in the dam, the standpipe was not closer enough to the water, and the standpipe was not maintained,” she said.
“Not with the separate out let water will always be available to emergency services.”
Ms Staley said the debate about who owned the dam had also been solved.
“We finally got clarification that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning owns the dam,” she said.
“So the state government owns the dam and the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water is responsible for the pipeline from Lake Fyans and they undertook to put this infrastructure in.
“The previous infrastructure was owned by Ararat Rural City, but council did not own the dam, so we have now got a reliable supply of water.”
Record rainfall in September saw the dam’s water level fill to near capacity in more good news for farmers.
