Future water source planning in Great Southern Region

23 January 2025

Following recent announcements, we are no longer progressing investigations into a potential desalination plant at King George Sound in Albany. 

We are still in the planning phase of the project will continue investigating seawater desalination and groundwater options. We will provide further updates in coming weeks.

27 April 2024

The project team attended the Albany Port Open Day on the 27th of April 2024 to share the latest on our new water source investigations with the local community.

It was great to take part in such a well-run event. Seeing the scale of the operations and learning about the inner workings of the port was fascinating! 

We spoke to over 100 local community members on the day and had really valuable conversations, not only about our investigations, but also about our existing water source and the challenges we're facing with the effects of climate change and forecast increases in demand.

Thanks to everyone who came down and we look forward to seeing you again when we are next in Albany. 

15 February 2024

In mid-February 2024, the project team took six members of the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation Cultural Advisory Committee on a half-day tour of the proposed desalination sites.

The purpose of the tour was for the project team to understand the cultural values of the proposed desalination sites and incorporate any feedback from Wagyl Kaip SNAC CAC into our decision making.

We will now progress with further surveys to support our ongoing investigations. 

 

28 June 2023

Water Corporation’s authorised consultants, Advisian, and a commercial boat operator will begin investigations in Frenchman Bay, Princess Royal Harbour and off the South Coast in late June 2023. 

The work will take three days. Exact work dates will depend on weather conditions and availability of contractors and their vessels. Further sampling and data collection will take place on a quarterly basis for up to 24 months. 

27 May 2023

The project team hosted two drop-in sessions in Albany on Friday, 26 May and Saturday, 27 May 2023. 

We had many interesting conversations and received useful feedback that will help inform our investigation pathway. Thank you to those who joined us to learn more about our new water source investigations.

We are now progressing with further planning for the investigations, and will keep the community updated as we progress. Sign up for updates via the link on the webpage to hear the latest project news.

29 July 2022

We’re pleased to advise fieldwork for our Aboriginal Heritage survey in the Manypeaks, Two Peoples Bay, Big Grove, Little Grove and Goode Beach areas has now been completed. This work is part of an investigation into groundwater and seawater desalination as future water source options in the areas.

Thank you to those landowners for facilitating access to private properties.

16 December 2021

We’re pleased to advise fieldwork for our environmental survey in the Manypeaks, Two Peoples Bay, Torndirrup, Big Grove, Little Grove and Goode Beach areas has now been completed. This work is part of an investigation into groundwater and seawater desalination as future water source options in the areas.

Thank you to those landowners for facilitating access to private properties. The survey area was large – extending much further than the actual area required for any infrastructure – to ensure we could capture accurate environmental data and to put any results into context. The consultants will now take the next few months to sort and analyse all the data collected, and prepare findings.

Next, we are preparing to undertake Aboriginal heritage surveys in the same areas with Traditional Owners, in the new year. We will write to affected landowners regarding this.

Happy holidays!

The LGSTWSS supplies drinking water to Albany, Mount Barker, Kendenup and Narrikup and Denmark (as required) from local groundwater sources on the South Coast and from surface water from Angove River near Two Peoples Bay, east of Albany. 

We continue to respond proactively to the ongoing challenges of climate change by investigating potential new water sources for the LGSTWSS.

These include:

• new groundwater sources;
• local seawater desalination.

We are still in the early stages with a decision on preferred option/s expected in 2025, following a detailed review of data and results.

We will engage with DWER, other government agencies, stakeholders and the community before making decisions on future sources for the region. 

Seawater desalination works by separating water molecules from seawater. First, seawater is screened and pre-treated to remove large particles like seaweed and sand. Next, the seawater is fed through reverse osmosis membranes, where water molecules pass through, and the remaining seawater becomes saltier. About 40-45% of the seawater becomes freshwater for drinking and the remaining 55-60% is brine.  The brine is nearly twice as salty as the original seawater. 

In seawater desalination plants, brine is the salty byproduct returned to the ocean. It is nearly twice as salty as seawater because about 40-45% of the freshwater is removed. Brine may contain very small amounts of food-grade chemicals like anti-scalants and cleaning agents. They are used to keep the membranes working efficiently. Only chemicals approved by the Department of Health for use in drinking water are used. 

Bitterns are salts and minerals left after seawater evaporates. Bitterns are sometimes used in table or industrial salts. They are much saltier than seawater and can be toxic to some marine life.  Water Corporation will not produce or discharge bitterns into the environment.

Brine is returned to the ocean through a brine outfall pipeline with a diffuser at the end. Diffusers help rapidly mix and dilute the brine with seawater. The diffuser helps to quickly reduce the brine's salinity to match the surrounding seawater generally within tens of metres. Mixing and dilution minimises the impact on marine life and ecosystems.
Brine continues to mix with seawater after it leaves the diffuser. It will not form pools of hypersaline water or collect in depressions or basins.
Brine dispersion modelling is used to predict how the brine will mix and dilute when it enters the ocean. The modelling uses wave, tide and current data collected from the proposed site and helps us design diffusers that would work best for the specific site conditions.

No, the diffusers are designed specifically for the chosen location and waves are not always required for the diffuser to work effectively. However, periods of wave energy would improve the dispersion. We consider the slope of the seabed (bathymetry) and complete modelling that uses local wave, current and tide data to tell us the best place to put the diffuser. 

Whenever we can, we try to avoid sensitive marine habitats, such as seagrass. We prefer to install brine diffusers in areas with bare sand. 

We regularly monitor the marine environment, including seagrass, around the diffusers to detect any changes.  Long-term monitoring of seagrass near our Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in Binningup has shown the seagrass health is similar to nearby reference sites that are not impacted by the brine.

The impact of brine on the marine environment depends on factors like the brine's saltiness, the seabed terrain and how well the mixing and dilution process works. 

The effect on stationary marine life, like seagrass, will be limited to the area where the highly diluted plume touches the seabed. We use brine dispersion modelling and habitat mapping to predict where this will happen. This helps us find areas that reduce impacts and avoid sensitive spots, like seagrass. It also helps us design the brine diffusers specifically for the location where they will be installed, so that we ensure the brine is being effectively dispersed into the surrounding ocean.

Mobile marine life that prefers lower salinity will move away from the brine. However, many species that tolerate high salinity will thrive near the diffuser. Mussels, starfish, seahorses and fish often gather around these structures and grow on them, creating unique ecosystems.

Our diffusers at the Southern and Perth Seawater Desalination Plants show that intakes and outfalls create habitats for marine life. Fish, mussels, starfish, seahorses, and crayfish all thrive on and near the diffusers.

The seawater intake and diffuser should not create noise during normal operation. However, machinery and equipment will produce temporary noise during installation. Once the construction methods are established, we will conduct a noise impact assessment. Noise-generating activities will be short-term and managed according to the relevant guidelines.

The intake is expected to use gravity to draw in water gently, ensuring a slow and steady flow.  Most organisms that can swim will be able to move away from the intake.  Some small organisms, like larvae, may be drawn into the intake and pipelines.  Research has shown that the number of larvae that enter into the pipelines is very low.

Environmental monitoring and data collection starts before a site is selected for any seawater desalination plant. This information helps us design and position the infrastructure to minimise environmental impact. It also forms part of the environmental impact assessment and approval application that is sent to the Regulator.  
Monitoring of the marine environment includes:

• water quality monitoring of the ocean including existing contaminants, salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels (up to two years) 
• benthic habitat mapping, which is the process of identifying and mapping underwater environments, specifically the seafloor and the organisms that live there. This includes mapping of reefs, troughs and freshwater seeps
• targeted surveys of marine flora and fauna, where required.

In addition to monitoring, we also complete the following studies:

• desktop review of existing historical data and literature 
• ecotoxicity testing in a laboratory, which tests whether the brine could have an impact on the larvae and adults of local marine species 
• we engage with Traditional Owners and other community and industry stakeholders to identify their key uses, and values and concerns.

The potential environmental impacts of the proposal will be defined, assessed, managed, and monitored under the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) Environmental Quality Management Framework (EQMF) for the State’s marine waters.  The EQMF is set out in the EPA’s (2016) Technical Guidance: Protecting the Quality of Western Australia’s Marine Environment.   

We begin the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and approval process after we complete our planning, investigations and concept design. The process includes referring the proposal to the EPA under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. EIA is a step-by-step way to assess how a proposal might impact the environment. A key step in EIA is finding effective controls and management measures. These help reduce possible negative environmental impacts.  The referral must show we're using the best measures. It must also show we have genuinely evaluated the location and design options for the proposal. This, along with the proposed environmental management measures, will ensure the EPA’s environmental objectives are met. The public is encouraged to join the EPA process via its consultation hub.

Water Corporation adheres to the EPA’s EQMF for the State’s marine waters, as described above. No breaches of marine water quality criteria have occurred due to the brine discharge at the Southern and Perth Desalination Plants. We will also be using the EQMF standard for the third desalination plant currently under construction in Alkimos. 

The Manypeaks area was highlighted as a potential groundwater resource area primarily based on findings summarised by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in the Albany Hinterland Prospective Groundwater Resource Map and Explanatory Notes from 2017. 

Out of all resources highlighted on the map, as part of the 2020 source plan we investigated the potential of:

• The water resource beneath Elleker (King River Paleochannel which extends south towards the Grasmere subarea);
• The water resource beneath the airport (King River Paleochannel); 
• Nanarup paleochannel;
• Manypeaks paleochannel. 

These options were selected based on water quality (lower salinity) and the potential to find a confined water resource for better source protection. The Kalgan paleochannel did not offer good prospect in that sense and therefore was not considered.

The King River resource is situated beneath tree farms and Elleker town site, both of which present source protection risks. It was therefore not considered further. 

We did not pursue the Nanarup option further due to the limited size of the aquifer and low yield estimates.

Following a detailed assessment of all groundwater options, we decided to pursue further investigations at Manypeaks, based on (but not limited to) hydrogeological, water quality and source protection, economic and environmental criteria.

While a new groundwater source currently remains an option, seawater desalination – as a proven, sustainable and reliable water source – will likely need to form part of the region’s longer-term water supply.

The majority of climate projections for Albany indicate 30-year average annual rainfall will decline by up to 21% out to 2050 (under worst case of the RCP8.5 climate projections). This will mean less water to replenish underground aquifers – with groundwater currently supplying around 90 per cent of the region’s drinking water – and dams and river sources.

On current projections, annual demand in the region will outstrip supply by 2030, with an additional 1.8 billion litres of drinking water needed by 2050.

We encourage residents to install rainwater tanks in regions with reliable annual rainfall patterns such as the South West and Great Southern regions. Though the efficiencies gained from collecting rainwater are valuable, they don’t close the gap between supply and demand, particularly in a changing climate where rainfall is increasingly less reliable. Rainwater tanks are also more expensive than other options when compared on a per kilolitre basis, which is why we encourage homeowners to collect rainwater for household use if this is their personal preference and we offer financial incentives to help. 
We run a number of Waterwise offers such as showerhead swaps and rebates for rainwater tanks to help customers achieve this, and to reduce the cost difference. The rebates on rainwater tanks are only available in the Great Southern and South West regions due to the more reliable annual rainfall patterns. Visit our Waterwise Towns webpage for further information about offers relevant to your area each year. 

Local Government is responsible for the operation approvals and installation of greywater systems in Western Australia. The West Australian Greywater Guide provides further information on how to best reuse domestic greywater in Western Australia

There is no change in pricing of water linked to new capital investment. Albany residential customers pay the same price as other residential customers across the state for water use up to 300kL/year.

As part of the Western Australian Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions from its direct activities, this new desalination plant will achieve net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions during all phases of construction and operations.

• Scope 1 emissions are the greenhouse gases released directly by the desalination plant itself. For example, if the plant has equipment or backup generators that burn fuel on-site, the emissions from burning that fuel are Scope 1 emissions.
• Scope 2 emissions are the indirect emissions from the electricity the plant buys to run. Desalination plants use electricity for things like pumping and filtering seawater. If that electricity is made at power plants that burn fossil fuels, the emissions from generating it are Scope 2 emissions.

Our planners begin with a high-level desktop assessment using publicly available data and data we have already gathered to identify potential areas for further investigation.
Following this, we conduct initial site visits and gather information from our local operations team and subject matter experts to determine if these options are worth further investigation.
We then complete a 'multi-criteria assessment,' evaluating each option based on the following factors: Social, Technical, Delivery & Operation, Economic, Environmental, Regulatory and Approvals, based on information we know at the time. This results in ranking of: Preferred, Acceptable, Negotiable, Not Desirable. 
At this stage, we present the options to stakeholders and the wider community for feedback. We also commence environmental, marine, heritage, and/or engineering investigations.  As further engagement and investigation activities occur, these are fed back into the multi-criteria assessment tool, meaning areas of investigation can change in ranking at any time.
The combined feedback and findings of those investigations is what informs a decision on the preferred option.

We value the input of our key stakeholders and community members. We are committed to engaging with all interested parties including government agencies, industry and the community, before and after making a decision. This has been our approach since 2022 and will continue. 
Part of this commitment means we have set up a Community Consultation Group to help with advice and feedback.
Engagement in 2025 will include:

• six Community Consultation Group meetings between May and December 2025 
• detailed briefings with key government agencies 
• detailed briefings with community, industry and stakeholder groups  
• in-person community information sessions in Albany 
• regular progress updates via email on the project and engineering investigations.