Kangaroo Island's new desalination plant is up and running in a significant boost to the region's long-term drinking water security and bushfire resilience.
Following years of planning and construction, the two-megalitre-per-day capacity facility is now producing safe and clean drinking water for approximately 700 local homes and businesses connecting to mains water for the first time.
Drawing seawater through two large underwater pipelines, the plant uses reverse osmosis to remove all salt and impurities before it is cleaned and treated to a high-quality drinking water standard.
The drinking water supply is then pumped through a new fifty-kilometre-long underground trunk main to supply the townships of American River, Baudin Beach, Island Beach and Sapphiretown with safe and clean mains water for the first time.
To increase the region's resilience in future bushfire events, SA Water has strategically installed 420 new fireplugs to provide easy access to water for emergency services.
The new plant can also supply the existing drinking water network around Kingscote in the event of unforeseen issues at the utility's Middle River Water Treatment Plant, as was experienced in the extreme bushfire event of 2019/20.
Significant fire damage to the plant rendered it inoperable for almost two weeks, with local residents asked to conserve non-essential water use during this time to maintain the Island's water supplies.
The plant is the third seawater desalination plant operated by SA Water across South Australia, with plans progressing for the construction of a new plant in Port Lincoln by mid-2026.
As put by Nick Champion
For the first time, popular areas on Kangaroo Island, like American River and Island Beach, will have access to water mains and a consistent water supply.
The new desalination plant near Penneshaw will also provide better bushfire protection for the eastern area of the Island with more water and access points for firefighters.
It's important we continue to invest in new water infrastructure that help our regions thrive.
As put by Leon Bignell
This project will deliver long term benefits for residents and visitors to the Island as well as giving firefighters extra water resources during bushfires.
The desal plant will give local businesses greater water security and will open up tourism to a new premium sector when The Cliffs Golf Course opens in just over 12 months' time.
As put by SA Water Chief Executive, David Ryan
We know that our climate is changing, and the region's new desalination plant will deliver a secure and sustainable water supply into the future without needing to rely on rainfall.
Having seen first-hand the impacts of fire damage to our water treatment infrastructure in 2019/20, we know the vital role our new plant will play to increase the region's resilience to future fire events.
We look forward to seeing the benefits that the new water can provide to the Island for generations to come.
