Kwinana Water Reclamation Plant

Industry is a large consumer of water within the state of Western Australia with 19% of the integrated water supply system going to business and commercial users. In Western Australia the largest concentration of industrial activity is found in the Kwinana industrial area. Applying the principle of fit-for-purpose use means that the demand on scheme and groundwater can be minimised by utilising recycled wastewater or drainage water which is suitable for non-drinking purposes when appropriately treated.

In 2004 the Water Corporation commenced the operation of the Kwinana Water Reclamation plant (KWRP) within the Town of Kwinana in an effort to reduce the need for bore and scheme water use within the industrial area. At full capacity approximately 24 megalitres a day of treated wastewater from the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant is piped to KWRP and processed through microfiltration and reverse osmosis processes. Once treated, 16.7 megalitres of high-quality process water is piped to a number of various industries within the Kwinana industrial area each day at a price which is cheaper than scheme water.

The 2010 annual report of the SDOOL released by the Water Corporation revealed that the monitoring has not detected any harmful effects on the marine environment. It is estimated that approximately six gigalitres per year of scheme water has been replaced by the KWRP. In 2005 the Water Corporation received an AWA Environmental Merit Award which gave recognition for the environmental benefits provided by the Kwinana Water Reclamation Plant.