$52m groundwater treatment plant upgrade in WA to support 120 jobs

Perth will soon have a more secure water supply as works commence on the $52 million upgrade to the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant located east of Tamala Park in the northern suburbs of Perth.

The south-west of Western Australia is one of the areas on the plant that is most affected by climate change through declining rainfall.

“Through the innovative use of groundwater replenishment and this upgraded treatment plant, water is able to be replenished and abstracted on a one-to-one basis,” Water Minister Dave Kelly said.

This multi-million dollar project includes:

• Expanding the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant to increase capacity from 100 million litres a day to 150 million litres
• Drilling four new bores in Beldon, Heathridge and Neerabup
• Connecting the new bores to the plant via new pipelines in Joondalup, Currambine and Neerabup
• Installing new pumps and electrical equipment at the Neerabup Pump Station in Joondalup
• Minor upgrades to pipes and valves at the Neerabup Reservoir

This project is part of the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme expansion that is aimed at doubling the recharge capacity of the scheme from 14 billion litres to 28 billion litres. The process for groundwater replenishment involves the advance treatment of secondary treated wastewater to produce drinking water.

Construction is due for completion in late 2020 and it is expected to generate up to 120 jobs during the peak construction period.

“The upgrade of the Neerabup Groundwater Treatment Plant is the final step in the expansion of this important climate independent water source.

“The overall project to expand the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme is supporting 540 local jobs,” Mr Kelly said.

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Source: Government of Western Australia; Water Corporation (1, 2); Wanneroo Times Community; Water Technology