Editing Ballarat (section)

===Utilities===
Ballarat's residents are serviced by a wide range of public utilities including water, gas and electricity, telephony and data communications supplied, overseen and regulated by state based authorities and private enterprise and local council.

Water supply as well as sewage collection and disposal are provided by Central Highlands Water.<ref name="Essential Services Ballarat">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmballaratandbeyond.com.au/filming/services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821222424/http://www.filmballaratandbeyond.com.au/filming/services|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2011|title=Essential Services|access-date=20 April 2012|publisher=Film Ballarat}}</ref> Drinking water is sourced from a network reservoirs all located in the highlands to the east, however the majority is sourced from two main reservoirs—Lal Lal and White Swan. The Lal Lal Reservoir (built in 1970<ref name="StreamsLakesStorages"/> with a capacity of {{convert|59500|Ml|usgal|abbr=off}}<ref name="WaterVicGovAu"/>) is Ballarat's largest water catchment accounting for approximately two-thirds of the city's water usage.<ref name="LalLalCatchment">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/08/05/3286039.htm|title=Lal Lal catchment full and flowing for first time in 15 years|access-date=26 April 2012|last=Burin|first=Margaret|date=5 August 2011|publisher=ABC Ballarat}}</ref> The White Swan reservoir (built in 1952<ref name="StreamsLakesStorages">{{cite web|url=http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water-vics-streams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520233123/http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water-vics-streams|archive-date=20 May 2013|title=Streams, Lakes and Storages|access-date=26 April 2012|date=11 May 2010|publisher=Department of Primary Industries}}</ref> with a {{convert|14100|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}} capacity) supplies most of the remainder.<ref name="WaterVicGovAu">{{cite web|url=http://www.water.vic.gov.au/resources/inyourregion/water-storages|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413105732/http://www.water.vic.gov.au/resources/inyourregion/water-storages|archive-date=13 April 2011|title=Water Storages|access-date=26 April 2012|date=12 October 2011|publisher=water.vic.gov.au}}</ref> Since May 2008, the White Swan has been topped up by water from Bendigo's Sandhurst Reservoir through the Goldfields Superpipe with water originally sourced from the [[Goulburn River (Victoria)|Goulburn River]] system.<ref name="Water Shortages 2010-01-21">{{cite news|first=Emma|last=Brown|title=Ballarat water storages: White Swan gets healthy new look|date=21 January 2010|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-water-storages-white-swan-gets-healthy-new-look/1731314.aspx|work=The Courier|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> Kirks Reservoir (built between 1860 and 1862 with a capacity of {{convert|400|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}) and Gong Gong Reservoir (built in 1877 at Gong Gong, Victoria<ref name="chw.net.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.chw.net.au/community/gong-gong-reservoir-park|title=Gong Gong reservoir park – Central Highlands Water|work=chw.net.au}}</ref> with a capacity of {{convert|1902|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}<ref name="WaterVicGovAu"/>) are historic main water supplies now maintained for emergency use.<ref name="Water Supply Critical 2009-05-13">{{cite news|first=Kim|last=Quinlan|title=Ballarat population growth: water supply critical|date=13 May 2009|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-population-growth-water-supply-critical/1814779.aspx|work=The Courier|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> Other reservoirs supplying Ballarat include Moorabool reservoir (located in [[Bolwarrah, Victoria]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/fisheries/recreational-fishing/fishing-locations/inland-angling-guide/moorabool/moorabool-angling-waters|title=Moorabool – Angling Waters|first=Department of Environment and Primary Industries|last=Victoria|work=agriculture.vic.gov.au|date=10 May 2017}}</ref> with a capacity of {{convert|6738|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}), Wilson's Reservoir (located in the [[Wombat State Forest]] with a capacity of {{convert|1013|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}), Beales reservoir (built 1863<ref name="Cochran1974">{{cite book|author=Margaret Cochran|title=Sovereign City: A Ballarat Tapestry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xn82AgAACAAJ|access-date=15 June 2013|year=1974|publisher=Ballarat and Queens Grammar School Parents and Friends' Association|isbn=978-0-9598167-0-9|page=37}}</ref> located at [[Wallace, Victoria|Wallace]] with a capacity of {{convert|415|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}) and Pincotts reservoir (built 1867<ref name="Cochran1974"/> located at Leigh Creek, Victoria<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findmap.com.au/searchthis/AUSUB_leigh_creek_3352.php|title=Suburb: Leigh Creek, 3352 VIC (Near Ballarat) – www.findmap.com.au|first=Daniel|last=Vidoni|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025045410/http://www.findmap.com.au/searchthis/AUSUB_leigh_creek_3352.php|archive-date=25 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> with a capacity of {{convert|218|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}).<ref name="Water Supply Catchments 1979">{{cite news|first=P.N.|last=King|title=A Report on the Ballarat Water Supply Catchments|date=1 May 1979|work=Soil Conservation Authority|publisher=Department of Primary Industries|url=http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/coranregn.nsf/pages/pwsc_63_ballarat_pdf/$FILE/ballarat_WS.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520232426/http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/coranregn.nsf/pages/pwsc_63_ballarat_pdf/$FILE/ballarat_WS.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 May 2013|access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> Sewage is managed by two plants—the Ballarat North Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Ballarat South Waste Water Treatment Plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chw.net.au/CHW/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=258|title=Welcome to Central Highlands Water &#124; Central Highlands Water|publisher=Chw.net.au|date=27 October 2012|access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref>

Residential electricity is supplied by Victorian electricity distributor [[Powercor]], while residential natural gas is supplied by [[AGL Energy]].

Telephone services are provided via the Doveton Street (BRAT) telephone exchange<ref name="Telstra Exchange 2000-11-02">{{cite news|first=Erin|last=Delahunty|title=Ballarat jobs to go as part of Telstra cutback|date=2 November 2000|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-jobs-to-go-as-part-of-telstra-cutback/304328.aspx|work=The Courier|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> which was originally built by the Australian Telecommunications Commission (now known as [[Telstra]]) who remains its owner, though [[Optus]] now also operates services from this facility. The city's cellular network currently uses Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Telstra has provided mobile telecommunications to Ballarat since 2003 (initially as CDMA). Optus provided competition with its entrance to the market in 2003 along with significant service upgrades in 2004<ref name="Optus 2004-04-18">{{cite news|first=Graham|last=Germaine|title=Optus improves mobile coverage in Ballarat|date=18 April 2004|work=Optus|publisher=optus.com.au|url=http://www.optus.com.au/aboutoptus/About+Optus/Media+Centre/Media+Releases/2004/Optus+improves+mobile+coverage+in+Ballarat|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> followed by [[Vodafone]] in mid-2009.<ref name="CNET Vodafone">{{cite news|first=Tindall|last=Suzanne|title=May date for Vodafone 3G bush launch|date=24 March 2009|publisher=CNET|url=http://www.cnet.com.au/may-date-for-vodafone-3g-bush-launch-339295618.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404121312/http://www.cnet.com.au/may-date-for-vodafone-3g-bush-launch-339295618.htm|archive-date=4 April 2009|access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>

Data communications are provided by several companies. Telstra was the first company to provide dial-up Internet access via the Ballarat exchange, however the first network for broadband Internet access available in the city was a hybrid [[optical fiber cable]] and coaxial cable built by [[Neighbourhood Cable]] in 2001.<ref name="Whirlpool 2001-04-18">{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Borgo|title=NBN doubles rollout of fibre to Ballarat|date=18 April 2001|work=Whirlpool|publisher=whirlpool.net.au|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm?id=238&show=al|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> Since then, Telstra and Optus have entered the Ballarat market, providing Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services for residential Internet access from four main exchanges—Ballarat, Wendouree (Howitt Street), Sebastopol (Skipton Street) and Alfredton (Cuthberts Road). These companies also provide mobile data access Evolved HSPA and since late 2011 3GPP Long Term Evolution (4G). Ballarat's rollout of the [[National Broadband Network]] (NBN) is seen as vital for the city's growing IT industry.<ref name="Broadband Revolution 2009-05-13">{{cite news|first=Marcus|last=Power|title=Broadband revolution coming to Ballarat|date=13 May 2009|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/broadband-revolution-coming-to-ballarat/1512825.aspx|work=The Courier|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="ballaratICT">{{cite web|url=http://www.ballaratict.com/resources/Issues-MinisterConroy.pdf|title=National Broadband Network Issues to be canvassed with Minister Steven Conroy|access-date=20 April 2012|publisher=Ballarat ICT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310114730/http://www.ballaratict.com/resources/Issues-MinisterConroy.pdf|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> During Ballarat's first stage NBN rollout in 2012, 17,800 homes will be directly connected to the network via optical fibre cable.<ref name="NBN Ballarat 2012-02-12">{{cite news|title=NBN doubles rollout of fibre to Ballarat|date=12 February 2012|publisher=ABC Ballarat|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/02/15/3431155.htm|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>