Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme | |
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Recycled water project | |
Country | Australia |
Location | South East Queensland |
Coordinates | 27°32′54″S152°32′48″E / 27.54833°S 152.54667°E |
Purpose | Recycle wastewater for industry and agriculture |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 2006 |
Opening date | November 2008 |
Cost | A$2.5 billion |
Operator(s) | Seqwater |
Total capacity | 232 ML (51×10 6 imp gal; 61×10 6 US gal) per day |
The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme, a recycled water project, is located in the South East region of Queensland in Australia. The scheme is managed by Seqwater and forms 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. [1] As of 2019, the scheme has been constructed and its performance has been validated. [2] It remains in care and maintenance mode, and will commence operation after SEQ Water Grid dam levels reach 60%. [3]
The scheme involved the construction of 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 megalitres (51×10 6 imp gal; 61×10 6 US gal) of purified recycled water daily. [4] The treatment train consists of microfiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light with advanced oxidation and chlorine disinfection.[ citation needed ]
The water is distributed via a network of pipelines measuring more than 200 kilometres (120 mi) in length. Construction began on the Recycled Water Project in 2006 and completed in late 2008. [5] [6] A$408 million of funding was provided by the Australian Government via its Water Smart Australia Program. [7]
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. [2]
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%. [5] Initially, the three power stations were the main customers of the recycled water, consuming 112 megalitres (25×10 6 imp gal; 30×10 6 US gal) per day. [5]
Since coming online in August 2007, through to July 2010, the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme has supplied more than 37 thousand megalitres (8.1×10 9 imp gal; 9.8×10 9 US gal) of water into the SEQ Water Grid.[ citation needed ]
In January 2013 it was reported that the Newman government was considering shutting down part or all of the scheme. [1]
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Seqwater is a statutory authority of the Government of Queensland that provides bulk water storage, transport and treatment, water grid management and planning, catchment management and flood mitigation services to the South East Queensland region of Australia. Seqwater also provides irrigation services to about 1,200 rural customers in the region that are not connected to the grid and provides recreation facilities.
As Australia's supply of freshwater is increasingly vulnerable to droughts, possibly as a result of climate change, there is an emphasis on water conservation and various regions have imposed restrictions on the use of water.
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. 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.
LinkWater, the trading name of the Queensland Bulk Water Transport Authority, a former statutory authority of the Government of Queensland was in operation between 2008 and 2012. During this period, the authority was responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of potable bulk water pipelines and related infrastructure throughout South East Queensland, in Australia.
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.