Murchison water treatment plant program
Project goal:
To improve water quality in Cue, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet and Sandstone
Status:
Complete
Delivery Date:
All treatment plants are now operational
What's happening?
We've built 4 water treatment plants in Mount Magnet, Cue, Sandstone and Meekatharra to improve water quality in the Murchison region.
The water treatment plants use a desalination process called electrodialysis reversal (EDR). EDR technology has been successfully used in regional towns across Australia to improve water quality conditions, reduce nitrate levels and convert over 90% of the treated water into drinking water. It is also used at the Wiluna and Yalgoo water treatment plants in the Murchison region.
Where is this happening?
Mount Magnet, Cue, Sandstone and Meekatharra.
Why is this work taking place?
Due to underlying rock conditions, water in these towns may be affected by salinity, hardness, nitrates and other undesirable qualities in the groundwater. The new water treatment plants will improve water quality by reducing salinity, nitrates and hardness.
When is this happening?
In late 2019, we started building the first plant in Mount Magnet and finished building the last plant in Meekatharra in mid 2022.
Current status
Mount Magnet
- Work site – Genga Pump Station
- November 2020 – this plant is now operational and in the optimisation period
- Work involved building two evaporation ponds, electrodialysis reversal unit and hybrid power system.
Cue
- Work sites – Cue Water Treatment Plant and Cue Tank Farm
- September 2021 - this plant is now operational and in the optimisation period
- Work involved building two evaporation ponds, new water storage tank, electrodialysis reversal unit and hybrid power system.
Sandstone
- Work sites – Sandstone Treatment Plant and Griffith Street
- November 2021 - this plant is now operational and in the optimisation period
- Work involved building two evaporation ponds and electrodialysis reversal unit at the water treatment plant site and building two water storage tanks and booster pump station at the Griffith Street site.
Meekatharra
- Work site – Sherwood Pump Station
- July 2022 - this plant is now operational and in the optimisation period
- Work involved building two evaporation ponds, electrodialysis reversal unit and hybrid power system.
Community Engagement