❓ Mr Norberger asks about the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme in his electorate. The Minister details the scheme's purpose, investment, and benefits for Perth's water security, highlighting its climate independence and impact on groundwater aquifers.
AnsweredQoN 371Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT SCHEME
371. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for Water:
I note the government's recent announcement of the
go-ahead for a full-scale groundwater replenishment scheme to operate in my
electorate. Can the minister please provide details of the scheme and explain
how it will help secure Perth's future water supply?
371. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for Water:
I note the government's recent announcement of the
go-ahead for a full-scale groundwater replenishment scheme to operate in my
electorate. Can the minister please provide details of the scheme and explain
how it will help secure Perth's future water supply?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Joondalup for his question and of
course his huge interest in this decision by the Liberal–National
government to fund groundwater replenishment as the next major source of
climate–independent water for the City of Perth.
We have known for a number of years—in fact for a
decade or so—that the climate is drying. The south west part of the
state is one of the hotspots in terms of drying. Of course over a number of
years the Liberal–National government has made significant investments
to ensure Perth does not run dry of water, such as the significant investment
in desalination, which is a climate–independent source. We are ensuring
that this decision will take some pressure off the Gnangara mound. We know that
groundwater is under pressure in some areas. The notion is to highly treat
treated wastewater and take it back to the Australian drinking water standard—back
to a standard that even I was prepared to drink and, to extend that, even Geof
Parry was happy to take a glass and even Alicia O'Flaherty had a glass.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
That just gives members a very clear indication of the confidence that the
broader community has in the science behind taking back treated wastewater to
the drinking water standard before it is injected into the ground. It stays in
the ground for a number of decades before it flows through the aquifers to get
to the point where it is drawn out, treated again and put into our
interconnected system. This investment of $116 million will roll out by June
2016 the first of three stages of a project that will deliver seven gigalitres
of water into our system. The others will come in 2018 and 2022. It is a
significant investment to ensure that Western Australia does not run out of
water. The injection of this water back into the system will take some weight
off the groundwater aquifers and it is climate independent. Therefore, no
matter what happens to the climate, we will have confidence in Perth's
water supply system.
I pay tribute to the Water Corporation for the work it has
done on this project over a number of years, particularly through the trial; to
the Department of Environment Regulation; to the Department of Water for its
support for the project; and also to the Department of Health, which worked
through the trial to the point where we had confidence in the technology and
the processes to ensure that we could make this significant investment for the
state.
course his huge interest in this decision by the Liberal–National
government to fund groundwater replenishment as the next major source of
climate–independent water for the City of Perth.
We have known for a number of years—in fact for a
decade or so—that the climate is drying. The south west part of the
state is one of the hotspots in terms of drying. Of course over a number of
years the Liberal–National government has made significant investments
to ensure Perth does not run dry of water, such as the significant investment
in desalination, which is a climate–independent source. We are ensuring
that this decision will take some pressure off the Gnangara mound. We know that
groundwater is under pressure in some areas. The notion is to highly treat
treated wastewater and take it back to the Australian drinking water standard—back
to a standard that even I was prepared to drink and, to extend that, even Geof
Parry was happy to take a glass and even Alicia O'Flaherty had a glass.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
That just gives members a very clear indication of the confidence that the
broader community has in the science behind taking back treated wastewater to
the drinking water standard before it is injected into the ground. It stays in
the ground for a number of decades before it flows through the aquifers to get
to the point where it is drawn out, treated again and put into our
interconnected system. This investment of $116 million will roll out by June
2016 the first of three stages of a project that will deliver seven gigalitres
of water into our system. The others will come in 2018 and 2022. It is a
significant investment to ensure that Western Australia does not run out of
water. The injection of this water back into the system will take some weight
off the groundwater aquifers and it is climate independent. Therefore, no
matter what happens to the climate, we will have confidence in Perth's
water supply system.
I pay tribute to the Water Corporation for the work it has
done on this project over a number of years, particularly through the trial; to
the Department of Environment Regulation; to the Department of Water for its
support for the project; and also to the Department of Health, which worked
through the trial to the point where we had confidence in the technology and
the processes to ensure that we could make this significant investment for the
state.
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