Esperance Water Supply Upgrade

What’s happening?

Water Corporation is delivering important upgrades to Esperance's water supply system to support long-term water security for the community.

We are equipping three existing groundwater bores and constructing a new 1.2km water pipeline in the Eleven Mile borefield, west of Esperance. This will connect the new bores to Esperance’s water supply network. Construction of the new water supply infrastructure within the Eleven Mile borefield is now complete.

We are also removing infrastructure at the Paine Road Water Treatment Plant that is no longer required and decommissioning two nearby groundwater bores. This work commenced in mid-August 2026 and will be complete by late 2026.

This National Water Grid project is funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments and delivered in partnership with Water Corporation.

This work is being delivered by our authorised contractors, Saltire Infrastructure.

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.

We're undertaking essential upgrades to groundwater infrastructure in the Eleven Mile borefield to maintain and improve the reliability of Esperance's drinking water supply.

These upgrades will improve key infrastructure and help ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply for the Esperance community.

How will this impact me?

We’re using existing Water Corporation sites in Esperance to store machinery and equipment. Most of the phase one 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 Eleven Mile 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. 

While phase one works are largely complete, the Eleven Mile borefield work area will remain closed to the public for the duration of the project to allow commissioning activities to be carried out safely.

During phase two works at the Paine Rd Water Treatment Plant and nearby groundwater bores, nearby residents may notice:
• Increased vehicle movements and workers in the area
• Temporary construction noise
• Traffic management and detours to help keep the community and workers safe

Our authorised contractor, Saltire, will operate on a 10-days-on, 4-days-off roster. Crews will be working Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. 

We thank the community for their patience and understanding while this essential work takes place.

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

What else is planned?

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.

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.