$12m for Bunbury water recycling facility

Aqwest will build and operate an $11.9 million water recycling facility and pipeline with funding from the state government.  

The facility will be positioned alongside the Bunbury Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dalyellup, and supply water for use on major infrastructure projects and irrigation of public open spaces.

The state government said climate change had particularly affected the South West, resulting in reduced rainfall, streamflow and recharge into groundwater resources.

It said the use of treated recycled water to meet Bunbury’s non-potable water requirements for infrastructure projects and irrigation would alleviate the need to use high-quality potable water from the Yarragadee Aquifer, while reducing the amount of treated waste water discharged out to sea.  

Water Minister Dave Kelly said the initiative would help to address the impact climate change was having on water supplies.

“The fit-for-purpose, recycled water generated will provide a much needed water resource for industry and irrigation, and deliver far reaching benefits to the city of Bunbury community by greening the environment and improving liveability,” he said.

The announcement comes as Aqwest’s $15 million Ngoora Moolinap Water Treatment Plant was officially opened today.

The plant draws water from groundwater resources further inland from the coastal groundwater resources, where the risk of increasing salinity levels due to climate change is threatening water quality.

It has the capacity to supply almost half of Bunbury’s average water consumption demand, producing 12 million litres of drinking water.

Aqwest is a government trading enterprise that supplies drinking water to the City of Bunbury.