Adelaide Desalination Plant, Australia

The Adelaide Desalination project involves construction of two 50gl capacity sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants and a 13km transfer pipeline. The A$1.83bn plant is being constructed at Lonsdale, near Port Stanvac, located approximately 30km south of the Adelaide central business district (CBD).

The first 50gl plant started delivering desalinated drinking water in August 2011. It will reach its full capacity by the last quarter of 2011. The entire plant with 100gl (100 billion litres) capacity will be completed by December 2012.

Sponsored by the South Australian Government and SA Water, the plant will be able to cover about 50% of Adelaide's annual water supply by delivering up to 100gl of water each year.

In August 2011, the Australian Government provided A$228m in funds towards the expansion of the plant to 100gl. The financing is part of the government's commitment of A$328m towards the project.

Background to the Adelaide Desalination Plant

The desalination plant at Port Stanvac was announced by the Government of South Australia in December 2007. The environmental impact statement (EIS) was compiled in November 2008 and its assessment report (AR) was submitted in February 2009 by the Minister for Urban Development and Planning. A land deal for setting up the plant was signed in December 2009.

In April 2008, the state government chose SA Water to finance the project. Construction of the plant commenced in April 2009, while work on the desalination pipe project began in June 2009.

A pilot plant was built in late 2008 to study the desalination technology, process, water quality and the environment. After studying and collecting data, the pilot plant was decommissioned in February 2011. It was built by Water Technology Australia.

Plant design

The desalination plant was designed by Woodhead. The plant's integrated industrial design allows it to meet the requirements of architectural work.

This design approach was taken to deliver a unified, cohesive and sustainable design by integrating master-planning and architecture and landscape and interior design together. The plant was designed to have a low visual impact from both close and long range views.

A transfer pumping station, transfer pipeline and a visitor centre are the other components of the project.

Designed as public interface, the visitor centre will have a glazed exhibition space, cantilevered roof forms and rammed earth walls.

Renewable sources of energy will be used to power the plant.

Purpose of project

More than one million residents and industrial and commercial offices of Adelaide are dependent on Murray River for potable water supply. In recent years, the Murray-Darling Basin has experienced low flow water volumes due to climate change and severe drought in south-eastern Australia.

This situation prompted the South Australian Government to construct the desalination plant to augment water supply.

This desalination plant is part of South Australia's water security plan, Water for Good. The plan released in June 2009 intends to secure the state's water future to 2050 and beyond.

Treatment

The plant uses reverse osmosis process to remove dissolved salts and impurities from ocean water. To make it suitable for drinking, the desalinated water is added with some beneficial compounds.

Lime is added to improve the taste of water and fluoride to meet Health SA requirements. Chlorine is added to disinfect the water as it is delivered to the Happy Valley Water Filtration Plant. Corrosiveness is reduced by adding carbon dioxide.

Key players

The project, consisting of the plant, associated marine works, a pumping station, transfer pipeline and a sub-station is being delivered by means of a design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) contract.

In February 2009, the South Australian Government had awarded the DBOM contract to AdelaideAqua, a consortium of McConnell Dowell Constructors, Abigroup Contractors, Acciona Agua and Trility (formerly United Utilities Australia). This consortium is responsible for designing, building, operating and maintaining the plant for 20 years.

McConnell Dowell, Abigroup Contractors and Acciona Agua have formed a joint venture to design and construct the plant and associated marine works. The operation and maintenance works will be undertaken jointly by Acciona Agua and Trility.

In April 2009, the engineering design contract was awarded to SMEC. Technical studies and investigations were undertaken by Aurecon.