Water Corp looks at bigger desal plant

The expansion of the desalination plant in Kwinana is being considered by the Water Corporation as part of a move to secure Perth’s water supplies into the future.

A 10-year plan to secure the capital city’s water supplies was published in 2011 that included a strategy to develop new sources of water, increase recycling and reduce household usage.

A review of this plan has led the Water Corporation to consider an expansion of the existing plant in Kwinana.

“The Water Corporation is carrying out a review of its desalination plants in Kwinana and Binningup to determine if these plants could be expanded to deliver more water,” a spokesman said.

“Off the back of last year’s record low inflows to Perth’s dams, we have already been maximising the output from our desalination plants.

“The Kwinana plant has regularly delivered more water than its name-plate capacity of 45 billion litres of water each year.

“We are in the early stages of considering these concepts, and if more detailed planning proceeds, it will include consultation with the community, regulators and other stakeholders.”

City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the council would be involved in any decision to expand the plant.

“The current licence for the Kwinana water desalination plant is administered by the Department of Environment and relates to protecting the environmental water qualities and marine life of the Cockburn Sound,” she said. “Any expansion of the desalination plant would involve a range of regulatory and licensing applications to assess environmental impacts. The City would be party to these assessments.”

City of Rockingham Deputy Mayor Deb Hamblin said she was not aware of any plans to build any new facilities in the Rockingham region.