East Pilbara Integrated Water Efficiency
East Pilbara, WA
Total funding: Total project cost of $3.1 million, with funding of $1.55 million from the Australian Government under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and the remaining funding provided by the Western Australia Water Corporation.
About the project
The East Pilbara district has very high residential water use; however the primary water demand is due to industrial activity with over half of all water used by non-residential customers. There is considerable scope to reduce potable water use, through a comprehensive water efficiency program, targeting commercial and residential water use, together with leakage. In addition, the program will deliver benefits by relieving pressure on local water sources through reduction in groundwater usage, increasing supply security and reducing the cost of longer term supply augmentation.
Project benefits
This project has:
- reduce potable water use by an estimated 1094 million litres each year,
- reduce potable water demand in Port and South Hedland through an integrated water efficiency and behavioural change program to reduce residential and non-residential water and energy (water heating) costs
- provide economic benefits through potential deferment of water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure, energy usage, and water and wastewater treatment costs, and
- improve environmental benefits through reduced surface water and groundwater extraction and reduced energy usage.
Progress
The project commenced on 19 August 2010 and is scheduled for completion by 30 June 2012.
Links
- Securing water supplies for Western Australia – media release 9 June 2010.
- Western Australia Water Corporation website