MARCH 2026 - AUS-ROV ROV INSPECTION OF BUBBLE PLUME DESTRATIFICATION PIPELINE AT PINDARI DAM FOR WATERNSW

Beneath the Surface: AUS-ROV Verifies New Cold Water Pollution Mitigation Infrastructure at Pindari Dam

Deploying ROV technology to conduct General Visual Inspection of the newly installed bubble plume destratification pipeline at Pindari Dam on the Severn River in northern New South Wales — a critical asset supporting WaterNSW’s $26.2 million cold water pollution mitigation project for the Murray–Darling Basin.

AUS-ROV has been engaged to perform an ROV General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the newly installed bubble plume destratification pipeline at Pindari Dam, located on the Severn River in northern New South Wales. The pipeline forms a critical component of WaterNSW’s $26.2 million cold water pollution mitigation project, delivered in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Fisheries and funded by the Australian Government.

The system delivers compressed air to diffusers positioned near the bed of the reservoir, generating rising bubble plumes that mix the water column and disrupt thermal stratification — a condition where cold, dense water settles at depth and is discharged downstream, suppressing river temperatures by up to 10°C during summer. Cold water pollution is recognised as a key contributor to native fish decline across the Murray–Darling Basin, with direct impacts on the breeding, growth and survival of species including Murray Cod and Golden Perch.

The Challenge

At 85 metres high with a storage capacity of 312,000 megalitres, Pindari Dam is one of the deepest reservoirs in New South Wales, making it both a high-priority site for destratification trials and a challenging underwater inspection environment. The submerged pipeline, diffusers and connections are positioned at significant depth within the reservoir, where visibility, access and orientation present typical challenges for confined-water ROV operations.

Verifying the as-installed condition of this infrastructure is essential before the system enters its two-year operational trial. The inspection programme required precise navigation along the pipeline alignment, careful documentation of diffuser positioning, and detailed visual assessment of the integrity of connections — all delivered without disturbing the newly installed assets or the reservoir environment.

The Inspection

AUS-ROV’s ROV GVI of the installed diffuser pipeline provides post-installation verification of the submerged infrastructure, documenting the as-installed condition, pipeline alignment, diffuser positioning and integrity of connections within the reservoir. High-definition video and still imagery were captured along the full length of the pipeline, with diffuser locations and connection points documented in detail.

The inspection data supports WaterNSW’s asset management programme and provides a baseline record ahead of the two-year operational trial. This baseline will enable comparison surveys throughout the trial period, allowing the asset owner to monitor any change in condition or alignment as the system enters service.

Why It Matters

Cold water pollution from deep-release dams is one of the most significant and widely recognised threats to native fish populations across the Murray–Darling Basin. By disrupting thermal stratification and restoring more natural downstream temperatures, bubble plume destratification offers a practical, infrastructure-based pathway to improving river health for species including Murray Cod and Golden Perch, whose breeding, growth and survival are tightly linked to seasonal water temperatures.

High-quality post-installation inspection data is fundamental to the success of trials of this kind. It provides asset owners with confidence in the as-installed condition of new infrastructure, supports ongoing engineering decisions, and establishes the baseline against which long-term performance can be assessed.

AUS-ROV is proud to support WaterNSW and the broader effort to restore healthier river conditions for native fish populations and downstream communities in the Border Rivers catchment.

Planning a Dam or Pipeline Inspection?

AUS-ROV provides specialist ROV inspection services for dams, reservoirs, pipelines, intake and outlet structures, and other confined underwater infrastructure across Australia and internationally.

Contact us:  info@aus-rov.com.au  |  www.aus-rov.com.au