WA will get a third desalination plant, costing more than $1.4 billion and located north of Perth at Alkimos.
The northern beaches suburb of Alkimos will be home to Western Australia's newest desalination plant.
Premier Mark McGowan said $1.4 billion had already been set aside to begin construction of the seawater processing plant, which will be powered by renewable energy.
Once complete the plant - the state's third - could deliever 100 billion litres of drinking water. The first stage will be completed by 2028.
“A new plant will cater for the growing drinking water needs of Perth, Peel, parts of the South-West and Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and support future economic development," Mr McGowan said. “Importantly, the new desalination plant will be renewably-powered, and with the existing initiatives, will support the new 2030 government emissions target. This target sets an example for industry throughout WA and will set the state up for a low carbon, reliable and affordable renewable energy future.”
The Water Corporation cites deminishing rainfall as the main reason to build a new desalination plant, which will compliment the two already operating south of Perth producing about 45 per cent of Perth's water supply.
"Since the 1970s, rainfall in southern WA has reduced by around 20 pe cent," the Water Corporation said. "This has seen an average 80 per cent reduction in streamflow to our dams. Modelling shows the drying trend will continue with winter rainfall forecast to decrease by up to 15 per cent by 2030, compared with the previous 20-year period."
Data reveals how Perth's dams collect about 70 billion litres of water annually, compared to 420 billion litres before 1975.
The Alkimos plant will be on Water Corporation land next to an existing wastewater treatment facility.
"It will be hidden behind large, vegetated sand dunes that will absorb noise and protect visual amenity," the corporation said.
The desalination process involves removing salt and impurities from seawater to produce fresh water using reverse osmosis.
