GWMWater announced last week it would gradually increase water pressure for customers in Horsham and Haven from May.

Country Fire Authority District 17 operations manager Dale Russell said the increase would make firefighter’s jobs a lot easier.

“Upgrading this infrastructure will absolutely benefit the CFA,” he said.

“The Horsham brigade is the busiest in the Wimmera and this will definitely help the most with fighting structural fires.

“It will also mean that some business owners will save money because they won’t have to install water pumps and tanks to supply extra water for firefighting.

“Lack of water pressure is not just a problem that affects Horsham – we encounter it all around the region.”

GWMWater will run water supply tests next week.

Acting managing director Andrew Rose said customers could experience interruptions to water supply between 8pm and midnight, starting on Monday.

“Our engineers have said that customers won’t even see an affect while they’re experimenting with the valves, but we do need to take the precautions just in case,” he said.

Mr Rose said customers should put small safeguards before the flow increase started.

“We would encourage people who have leaking taps or broken pipes to get them checked or replaced,” he said.

“Leaks will only become more apparent over time once the pressure is increased.”

Mr Rose said GWMWater would continue to monitor the water supply between pressure increases.

“We don’t expect people to see any big change straight away because this will be a gradual increase,” he said.

“The first increase will give us an indication of how it will go. Then the second is due in July and the third in September. Hopefully it will all be finished in early October.

“The feedback we’ve had from the community so far has been very positive.”