Project to help secure Perths water supply underway

• McGowan Government starts $52 million groundwater treatment plant upgrade in Neerabup
• Up to 120 WA jobs to be created during construction
• Final piece of the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme expansion - a climate independent water source, helping secure water supplies from climate change impacts
• Its National Water Week and this year's theme is 'It's time to change the world'

Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced the expansion of Perth's Groundwater Replenishment Scheme has reached a major milestone, with work starting to upgrade the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant.

The expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme, due to be completed in late 2020, will double the recharge capacity of the scheme from 14 billion litres to 28 billion litres.  

Groundwater replenishment is the process where secondary treated wastewater undergoes advanced treatment to produce drinking water. The water is recharged to an aquifer for later use as a drinking water source. When abstracted, the water is once again treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The $52 million upgrade to the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant will increase the capacity of the current plant from 100 million litres of water treated per day to 150 million litres of water treated per day.

The upgrade is expected to provide up to 120 jobs for local workers during peak construction at the site, located east of Tamala Park in Perth's northern suburbs.  Works are expected to take about 12 months to complete.

Find out more, at: http://www.watercorporation.com.au

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"Water supply planning is never static, we are constantly responding and adapting to changing circumstances, including climate change, by adding new water sources when needed.

"The south-west of Western Australia is one of the areas on the planet that is most affected by climate change through declining rainfall.

"Through the innovative use of groundwater replenishment and this upgraded treatment plant, water is able to be replenished and abstracted on a one-to-one basis.

"The upgrade of the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant is the final step in the expansion of this important climate independent water source.

"The overall project to expand the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme is supporting 540 local jobs."

Comments attributed to Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard:

"It is great to see the McGowan Government deliver another major infrastructure project.

"This project will secure WA water supplies from climate change impacts.

"It also highlights the McGowan Government's focus on creating jobs and supporting activity that benefits the WA economy."