High-grade water use to be cut

In a move that could free up as much as two gigalitres of high-grade water for domestic use, Alcoa is negotiating with the Water Corporation to use Mandurah’s wastewater in its $440 million Pinjarra expansion.

As is the case in most states, water use and supply is a topical political issue in Western Australia. Water management was a key issue in the recent state election campaign.

Alcoa managing director Wayne Osborn said water was also a key issue for the energy and water intensive alumina industry.

“We have a target to reduce high-grade fresh water use by 20 per cent and are pursuing ways to use lower grade water,” he said.

Mr Osborn said that with the right infrastructure Alcoa could use treated wastewater from Mandurah, freeing up water for household use.

An Alcoa spokeswoman said the costs of project were not yet known, however if it was commercially viable Alcoa would consider contributing to the project.

A spokesman for State Development and Energy Minister Alan Carpenter said the minister had not heard of the proposal prior to Mr Osborn’s speech, but found it interesting.