List of desalination plants in Australia facts for kids

Australia is a very dry continent, and sometimes there isn't enough fresh water for everyone. During a big drought from 1997 to 2009, many parts of Australia faced a serious water shortage. To help with this, state governments decided to build special factories called desalination plants. These plants take salty water from the ocean and turn it into fresh, clean drinking water. They use a clever process called reverse osmosis. Some of these plants even use renewable energy, like wind farms, to power their operations!

Australia's first big desalination plant was built in Perth and started working in November 2006. Another plant on the Gold Coast began operating in February 2009. The Sydney Desalination Plant in Kurnell opened its doors on January 28, 2010.

What is Desalination?

Desalination is a process that removes salt and other minerals from water, usually seawater. This makes the water safe to drink or use for farming and industry. It's like taking ocean water and making it taste like tap water!

The main method used in Australia's large plants is called reverse osmosis. Imagine water passing through a super-fine filter. In reverse osmosis, salty water is pushed through a special membrane under high pressure. This membrane has tiny holes that are big enough for water molecules to pass through, but too small for salt and other impurities. So, clean water comes out one side, and very salty water (called brine) is left behind.

Why Does Australia Need Desalination Plants?

Australia is the driest inhabited continent. This means it doesn't get a lot of rain in many areas. When long periods without rain happen, like the severe drought from 1997 to 2009, dams and rivers can dry up. This leads to a water supply crisis.

Desalination plants offer a reliable source of fresh water, especially for big cities located near the coast. They don't depend on rainfall, so they can provide water even during the worst droughts. This helps make sure that homes, schools, and businesses always have enough water.

Major Desalination Plants in Australia

Australia has several large desalination plants that help supply water to its biggest cities. Here are some of the most important ones:

Gold Coast Desalination Plant

• Location: Tugun, Queensland
• Opened: 2009
• Capacity: This plant can produce up to 125 million litres of fresh water every day. That's enough to supply about 27% of South East Queensland's water needs when running at full power. It usually operates at a low level, ready to produce more water when needed.

Perth Seawater Desalination Plant

• Location: Kwinana, Western Australia
• Opened: 2006
• Capacity: It can produce 130 million litres of water daily, providing about 17% of Perth's water. This was Australia's very first large-scale desalination plant.

Southern Seawater Desalination Plant

• Location: Binningup, Western Australia
• Opened: 2012
• Capacity: This is an even bigger plant for Perth, able to produce 270 million litres of water per day. Together with the Kwinana plant, it helps supply a large portion of Perth's water.

Sydney Desalination Plant

• Location: Kurnell, New South Wales
• Opened: 2010 (fully operational 2012)
• Capacity: This plant can produce 250 million litres of water daily. It's a key part of Sydney's water supply, especially during dry times.

Adelaide Desalination Plant

• Location: Port Stanvac, South Australia
• Opened: 2012
• Capacity: It can produce 300 million litres of water per day, which could supply up to 50% of Adelaide's water needs. It typically runs at a minimum level, providing about 10% of South Australia's water.

Victorian Desalination Plant

• Location: Dalyston, Victoria
• Opened: 2012
• Capacity: This is the largest plant in Australia, capable of producing 410 million litres of water per day. It can supply about 33% of Melbourne's water.

Smaller Desalination Plants Across Australia

Besides the big city plants, many smaller desalination facilities operate across Australia. These are often in regional towns, islands, or for specific industrial projects. They help provide water where traditional sources are limited or unreliable.

• Western Australia: Places like Barrow Island, Burrup, Cape Preston, and Rottnest Island have smaller plants. Some are for mining projects, while others supply water to remote communities or tourist spots.
• South Australia: Smaller plants are found in Hawker, Kangaroo Island, Marion Bay, and Port Augusta. Some of these support local towns or agricultural projects.
• Queensland: Islands like Green Island, Hamilton Island, and Hook Island use desalination to provide fresh water for resorts and residents.
• Offshore: Even remote places like Christmas Island and Home Island (in the Cocos & Keeling Islands) have desalination plants.

Future of Desalination

While many plants are already built, some are still being planned or have been cancelled. For example, a plant was approved for Anketell Point in Western Australia but later cancelled. Other proposed plants for places like Point Lowly in South Australia or the Sunshine Coast in Queensland are either on hold or being considered for the future.

Desalination is an important part of Australia's strategy to manage its water resources, especially as the climate changes and populations grow.

See also

• Energy in Australia
• Seawater desalination in Australia