Desalination
Desalination is just one of the many ways we've made huge progress. To tackle the challenges of climate change and population growth, we:
- have started building a desalination plant , to be ready to supply water by summer 2009/10
- will fully power the desalination plant from 100 per cent renewable energy sources*.
Desalination does not depend on rainfall and it can supply up to 15 per cent of Sydney's water.
The desalination plant will use reverse osmosis technology to remove impurities from the water. A new pipeline will carry the water from Kurnell across Botany Bay to the city's main water supply. The pipeline will connect with the main water supply tunnel at Erskineville.
Desalination plants are used in many cities around the world, providing people with high quality water from a reliable supply that is not dependent on rainfall.
A range of updates and fact sheets are available on the Sydney Water website or you can download the Progress Report for more information.
*Sydney Water will purchase 100 per cent of the plant's power requirements from an accredited, renewable energy source. This wind energy will not directly power the plant, but will be fed into the National Electricity Market grid and delivered to the plant along existing power lines. Sydney Water will obtain Renewable Energy Certificates in respect of this renewable energy and will surrender those certificates to the Commonwealth Government Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator to ensure that power for the desalination plant is offset by 100 per cent renewable energy.
Desalination is an important, non-rainfall dependent part of the NSW Government's approach to securing Sydney's water supplies, and can supply up to 15 per cent of Sydney's water.