The Meekatharra advanced water treatment plant has been completed, marking the final stage of the $25.7 million project to improve water quality in Murchison.
The Meekatharra plant follows Water Corporation’s successful delivery of similar plants in Mount Magnet, Cue and Sandstone since late 2020.
The plants use EDR to separate naturally occurring salts from water, reducing nitrate levels, salinity and hardness.
Residents will see improvements in taste and water quality. Similar plants in Wiluna and Yalgoo have seen reductions in nitrate levels of up to 75 per cent.
The Western Australian Government has invested $180 million in new water infrastructure in the Mid West since 2017 with an additional $29 million allocated to water and wastewater projects across the region over the next four years.
Western Australian Water Minister, Dave Kelly, said this is the completion of an important project that will deliver residents in these four communities better tasting, higher quality water long into the future.
“Through Water Corporation, the Western Australia Government is investing more than $29 million in new water projects in the Mid West over the next four years, including $17.5 million in the current financial year,” Mr Kelly said.
“This investment will allow communities across the region to grow and develop with the support of secure, sustainable water infrastructure.”
The Meekatharra EDR plant will harness renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and operating costs, while allowing the plant to continue operating during power outages.
Western Australian Mining and Pastoral Region MLC, Peter Foster, said the Meekatharra water plant is one more way the Western Australian Government is delivering for the Murchison and its communities.
“By harnessing renewables, we’ve turned this project into a win for the residents and the environment,” Mr Foster said.
“While this is the culmination of the Western Australian Government’s mission to improve water quality in the Mid West, I’m very happy to see the announcement of further investments in water projects well into the future.”
To celebrate completion of the plant, Meekatharra will join Water Corporation’s 2022-23 Waterwise Towns Program in October 2022.
The program provides tailored rebates to regional towns across Western Australia to assist communities to reduce water usage.
To learn more, visit the Water Corporation website here.
