Review favours Western Australian govt’s desal plan

An independent review conducted by KPMG and Worley Parsons has found that the Western Australian Department of Water’s proposal for a phased desalination facility is the most effective option for treating saline water flows in the Collie River.

The salinity of the Wellington Reservoir – caused by deforestation along the Collie River – has already been reduced from 1,300mg/l to 900mg/l thanks to reforestation efforts, but is still too high to support industrial and agricultural water needs in the area.

The Department’s proposal – chosen from a shortlist of four – involves the construction of a 18,356m3/d desal plant (first phase 10,136m3/d), which will reduce the average salinity in the reservoir to 500mg/l, as well as an increase in the volume of water diverted from the river to 21,918m3/d.

The report’s key recommendations include a call for a feasibility study in order to fully assess the costs and benefits of the Department’s proposal.