Esperance Water Supply Upgrade

What’s happening?

Water Corporation is upgrading Esperance’s water supply infrastructure to support water security for the Esperance community. This National Water Grid project is funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments and delivered in partnership with Water Corporation.

We are equipping three existing groundwater bores and constructing a new 1.2km water pipeline in the Eleven Mile borefield, west of Esperance. 

This work is being delivered by our authorised contractors, Saltire Infrastructure. Construction commenced in February 2026 and is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

Where is this happening?

This work is happening west of Esperance in the Eleven Mile borefield. Please see the map below. 

Why is this happening?

Esperance's public drinking water comes from a shallow, unconfined superficial aquifer that is replenished by local rainfall. 

To make better use of available groundwater in the region, we’re upgrading infrastructure in the Eleven Mile borefield. While we currently have available water in this area, we haven’t been able to use it due to limited infrastructure.

We’re now equipping three existing bores and building a 1.2 km pipeline to connect them to the scheme. These bores will replace three older ones in the Esperance township, which will be decommissioned. 

Water Corporation works closely with DWER and uses monitoring bores to monitor the aquifer, helping to protect and manage it for the future. 

How will this impact me?

We’re using existing Water Corporation sites in Esperance to store machinery and equipment. Most of the work is happening away from homes and businesses, but you may notice increased vehicle movement and noise as crews travel between town and the work area.

Our crews are accessing the work area using a track that crosses the Great Ocean Trail, which runs between Pink Lake and Twilight Beach. We understand this is a much-loved trail used daily by walkers, runners and cyclists in the community. 

To help ensure public safety, we have installed clear signage on both sides of the track intersection. We kindly ask the community to take extra care when approaching this section of the trail, watch for vehicles, and follow any safety instructions in place. 

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this essential work.

What else is planned?

Once the three existing groundwater bores are equipped and the new pipeline is completed, we plan to decommission three existing bores located in the Esperance Town area.

We are also planning to partially decommission the Paine Road Water Treatment Plant, which is currently only used during peak summer periods. 

Pending further approvals, this work is expected to commence in 2026. 

In March 2026 we installed a small number of groundwater monitoring bores in the Pink Lake area to meet groundwater licence requirements. This work took place entirely on government managed land, including the reserve south of Eleven Mile Beach Road, the firebreak south of Dunkley Circuit, and Tuart Forest Grove.

How do we ensure sustainable use of the aquifer?

We all play a part in protecting the environment. Water is a valuable resource, and it’s important that we use and manage it wisely.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is responsible for water resource management across the State. They determine how much water can be taken from groundwater and surface water resources, while safeguarding the sustainability of the resource and protecting the water dependent environment.

Water Corporation works closely with DWER and uses monitoring bores to monitor the aquifer, helping to protect and manage it for the future.

How are we supporting water conservation?

We continue to focus on water efficiency initiatives that help reduce water use across our service areas, while maintaining a reliable and sustainable water supply for the future. These initiatives are designed to support customers to use water more efficiently in their homes, businesses, and communities.

A range of water efficiency offers are available to customers and the broader community, depending on location and program availability. These offers may include showerhead replacements, irrigation rebates, rainwater tank rebates, and toilet rebates. To find the latest information on our current offers and how to apply please visit Waterwise Offers - Perth and Regional offers.

We also acknowledge the ongoing support and participation of communities and local governments, whose collective efforts continue to play an important role in achieving positive water conservation outcomes.