SEQ Water Grid

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SEQ Water Grid
WGlogo WEB.jpg
Water grid overview
Jurisdiction South East Queensland
Key document
Website seqwater.com.au

The SEQ Water Grid is a region-wide, long term, water supply scheme that provides a sustainable water infrastructure network for the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The project was the largest urban response to the drought in Australia, which severely affected water supplies in Brisbane and surrounds, particularly between 2004 and 2007. The basic component of the project was a 535-kilometre (332 mi) network of potable bulk water pipelines that connect areas that have an oversupply of water to those areas lacking water. [1] The project went online in October 2008 and by November 2008 parts of the region were receiving a diversified supply of water for the first time. [2]

Contents

Features and structure

The SEQ Water Grid was initially managed by a partnership between Seqwater, LinkWater and the SEQ Water Grid Manager. [3] The total cost of the project was A$6.9 billion. [2] On 1 January 2013, the SEQ Water Grid Manager, LinkWater, Seqwater and parts of Queensland Water Commission were amalgamated into the Queensland Bulkwater Authority trading as Seqwater. The authority is a state-owned corporation that owns and operates the SEQ Bulk Water Supply System or the Bulk Water Supply Chain. [4]

The plan for the Water Grid was originally laid out in the Queensland Water Commission's South East Queensland Water Strategy, a 50-year strategy to maintain adequate water supply. The main objectives are to respond to the drought and provide long term water security for the region, particularly to avoid the need to place severe water restrictions on residents. Other aims of the Water Grid are to move risk away from individual water storage facilities to the regional level and to efficiently coordinate the utility of water sources in South East Queensland. [5] [6]

Components

Existing facilities that have become part of the Water Grid include Wivenhoe Dam, Somerset Dam, North Pine Dam and Baroon Pocket Dam, along with eight other dams that make up the 12 connected dams. Part of the project involved the construction of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant to convert sea water to drinking water and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme to purify treated wastewater for supply to power stations and industrial and agricultural customers. Purified recycled water will also be added to the water supply once combined dam levels fall below 40 per cent.

Two major pipelines, called the Northern and Southern Pipeline Interconnectors, link water storage facilities near Gympie in the north of the region and the Gold Coast area, south of Brisbane. Wyaralong Dam and the completed Cedar Grove Weir are part of the plans. These water reservoirs provide significant new supply and are needed to meet the region's growing demand up until 2050. [7] In 2008 Lake Manchester Dam and Enoggera Dam were reactivated to supplement supply. [7] The project also encompasses a raising of the Hinze Dam dam wall and the connection of the Leslie Harrison Dam and Ewen Maddock Dam to the regional network.

Current SEQ Water Grid bulk water assets

See also

Related Research Articles

Leslie Harrison Dam dam in Australia

The Leslie Harrison Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam across the Tingalpa Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia.The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Redland City in Brisbane. The impounded reservoir is called Tingalpa Reservoir. The dam was named after Robert Leslie Harrison, a Queensland parliamentarian who died in April 1966.

Little Nerang Dam dam in Australia

The Little Nerang Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an un-gated spillway across the Little Nerang Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Gold Coast region. The impounded reservoir is also called Little Nerang Dam. The dam was closed to the public in 2013 due to safety concerns.

The Gold Coast desalination plant is a 125 ML/d reverse osmosis, water desalination plant located in Tugun, a seaside suburb of the Gold Coast. It supplies water to the South East Queensland region via the South East Queensland Water Grid.

Sideling Creek Dam

The Sideling Creek Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Sideling Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purposes of the dam are for potable water supply of the Moreton Bay region and for recreation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Kurwongbah.

Wappa Dam dam in Australia

The Wappa Dam is a mass concrete gravity arch dam with earth-fill abutments and an un-gated spillway across the South Maroochy River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for supply of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region. The impounded reservoir is also called Wappa Dam.

Poona Dam dam in Australia

The Poona Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with a toe drain with an un-gated spillway across a tributary of the South Maroochy River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for storage of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region. The impounded reservoir is also called Poona Dam.

Ewen Maddock Dam dam in Australia

The Ewen Maddock Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Addlington Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Sunshine Coast region.

Cedar Grove Weir lake in Australia

The Cedar Grove Weir is a weir located across the Logan River in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the weir is for potable water storage.

Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme

The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme, a recycled water project, is located in the South East region of Queensland in Australia. The scheme that is managed by Seqwater is a key part of the SEQ Water Grid constructed by the Queensland Government in response to population growth, climate change and severe drought. The A$2.5 billion project is reported as the largest recycled water project in Australia.

Seawater desalination in Australia

Australia is the driest inhabitable continent on Earth and its installed desalination capacity comprises around 1% of the world’s total. Until a few decades ago, Australia met its demands for water by drawing freshwater from dams and water catchments. As a result of the water supply crisis during the severe 1997–2009 drought, state governments began building desalination plants that purify seawater using reverse osmosis technology.

WaterSecure

WaterSecure, the trading name of the Queensland Manufactured Water Authority, was a statutory authority of the Government of Queensland that supplied water to the South East Queensland region of Australia through its desalination plant and a water recycling scheme, the Western Corridor Recycled Water scheme. WaterSecure was merged with Seqwater on 1 July 2011.

References

  1. "South East Queensland Water Grid". Department of Infrastructure and Planning. The State of Queensland . Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  2. 1 2 "SEQ Water Grid". Ipswich City Council . Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  3. "SEQ Water Grid". SEQ Water. Archived from the original on 20 October 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  4. South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007 (QLD)
  5. "Water Grid". Queensland Water Commission. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  6. "South East Queensland Water Strategy" (PDF). Queensland Water Commission (PDF). The State of Queensland. 2010. p. 24. ISSN   1836-5051 . Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Supply initiatives". Queensland Water Commission. 15 March 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

Coordinates: 27°21′15″S152°36′10.3″E / 27.35417°S 152.602861°E / -27.35417; 152.602861