Final testing will begin at Sydney’s state of the art wind powered Desalination Plant today as part of the NSW Government’s Sydney Metropolitan Water Plan.
Once operational, the plant will supply up to 250 million litres daily to Sydney households – up to 15 per cent of Sydney’s water supply.
Minister for Water, Phil Costa, said the water supplied by the Desalination Plant will secure Sydney’s ongoing water supply into the future – alongside key initiatives such as water recycling and water efficiency.
“The NSW Government is taking a comprehensive approach to securing the long-term waterneeds of Sydneysiders. We need to continue to be vigilant with water wastage and ensure we continue to use global best practices to secure our precious water supplies.
“The new plant – 100 per cent powered by wind – will supply up to 1.5 million people across Sydney with part or all of their water needs.
“Water from the desalination plant will be the same quality as water from Sydney’s storage dams – meeting the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“Engineers at Sydney Water’s System Operations Centre are currently making adjustments to the water network to receive water from the new 18-kilometre pipeline from Kurnell to Erskineville.
“Extensive testing needs to take place at the Plant before water is supplied into the drinking water network. Once testing is complete, the plant will start supplying drinking water into the system within weeks.
“Sydney’s Desalination Plant will be fully offset by renewable energy produced at Infigen Energy’s Capital Wind Farm at Bungendore.
“The Desalination Plant is a key part of Sydney’s Metropolitan Water Plan as it’s not dependent on rainfall.
“By 2015 we will be recycling up to 12 per cent of Sydney’s water needs. Water efficient devices such as taps, showerheads and washing machines, and our water-wise rules will save up to 24 per cent.”
The desalination plant has been built by the Blue Water Joint Venture, comprising John Holland and Veolia Water Australia. The desalination pipeline has been built by the Water Delivery Alliance, comprising Bovis Lend Lease, McConnell Dowell, Worley Parsons, Kellogg Brown and Root, Environmental Resources Management and Sydney Water.