Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
Encyclopedia
The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme is Australia's largest recycled water project, located in South East Queensland
. It is a key part of the SEQ Water Grid being constructed by the Queensland Government in response to population growth, climate change
and severe drought
.
The A$2.5 billion project has seen three advanced water treatment
plants constructed at Bundamba
, Luggage Point and Gibson Island, which draw water from six existing wastewater treatment plants in the region to produce up to 232 million litres of purified recycled water daily. The water is distributed via a network of pipelines
measuring more than 200 kilometres in length. Construction began on the Recycled Water Project in 2006 and completed in late 2008. A$408 million of funding was provided by the Australian government via its Water Smart Australia Program.
In Stage 1 of the project the scheme has provided an alternative water source for Swanbank Power Station and both Tarong Power Station and Tarong North Power Station. Supplies to Swanbank started in 2007 and supplies to Tarong and Tarong North started in June 2008.
The system has the capacity to provide water to other industrial users, agricultural users and to supplement drinking water supplies in Wivenhoe Dam
. Testing of the pipeline to Wivenhoe Dam has been conducted, however in November 2008, Premier Anna Bligh declared that recycled water will not enter the dam unless levels drop to below 40%. As of May 2009, the three power stations are the main customers of the recycled water, consuming 112 megalitres per day.
Since coming online in August 2007, through to July 2010, the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme has supplied more than 37 billion litres of water into the SEQ Water Grid.
The Western Corridor is the area from Brisbane
's south west suburbs towards the city of Ipswich
. For many years the area has experienced significant growth with the development of Springfield
, extension of the Centenary Highway and upgrade to the Ipswich Motorway
necessary.
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
. It is a key part of the SEQ Water Grid being constructed by the Queensland Government in response to population growth, climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and severe drought
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
.
The A$2.5 billion project has seen three advanced water treatment
Water treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
plants constructed at Bundamba
Bundamba, Queensland
Bundamba is a large suburb of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.Bundamba stretches from the Bremer River to the north, across Brisbane Rd, the main arterial link to the Ipswich Motorway, to the Cunningham Highway in the south...
, Luggage Point and Gibson Island, which draw water from six existing wastewater treatment plants in the region to produce up to 232 million litres of purified recycled water daily. The water is distributed via a network of pipelines
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
measuring more than 200 kilometres in length. Construction began on the Recycled Water Project in 2006 and completed in late 2008. A$408 million of funding was provided by the Australian government via its Water Smart Australia Program.
In Stage 1 of the project the scheme has provided an alternative water source for Swanbank Power Station and both Tarong Power Station and Tarong North Power Station. Supplies to Swanbank started in 2007 and supplies to Tarong and Tarong North started in June 2008.
The system has the capacity to provide water to other industrial users, agricultural users and to supplement drinking water supplies in Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam is a dam across the Brisbane River a little way upstream from Locker Creek. The dam creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe. The dam wall is located about by road from the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
. Testing of the pipeline to Wivenhoe Dam has been conducted, however in November 2008, Premier Anna Bligh declared that recycled water will not enter the dam unless levels drop to below 40%. As of May 2009, the three power stations are the main customers of the recycled water, consuming 112 megalitres per day.
Since coming online in August 2007, through to July 2010, the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme has supplied more than 37 billion litres of water into the SEQ Water Grid.
The Western Corridor is the area from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
's south west suburbs towards the city of Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
. For many years the area has experienced significant growth with the development of Springfield
Springfield, Queensland
Springfield, also known as the Greater Springfield Development, is a 28.50 square kilometre residential development located in Ipswich, in South East Queensland, Australia...
, extension of the Centenary Highway and upgrade to the Ipswich Motorway
Ipswich Motorway
The M7 runs from the junction of Ipswich Road and Granard Road to the M2 Logan Motorway interchange. It is then signed M2 until the junction of the Warrego Highway and the Cunningham Highway between Brisbane and Ipswich in South East Queensland, Australia.It initially passes through the suburbs of...
necessary.
See also
- Bradfield SchemeBradfield SchemeThe Bradfield Scheme is an inland irrigation project designed to irrigate and drought-proof much of the Queensland interior, as well as large areas of South Australia. It was devised by Dr John Job Crew Bradfield , a Queensland born civil engineer, who also designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and...
- Goldfields Water Supply SchemeGoldfields Water Supply SchemeThe Goldfields Water Supply Scheme is a pipeline and dam project which delivers potable water to communities in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, particularly Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie...
- Irrigation in AustraliaIrrigation in AustraliaIrrigation in Australia is a widespread practice to supplement low rainfall levels in Australia with water from other sources to assist in the production of crops or pasture. As the driest inhabited continent, irrigation is required in many areas for production of crops for domestic and export use...