The Western Australian State Government will introduce reverse osmosis units and a new pipeline to deliver larger quantities of water from Denmark River Dam (WA) to the residents of Denmark.
The construction will aim to increase Denmark’s drinking water supplies ahead of summer after the town experienced its second driest year on record in 2014.
Water Minister Mia Davies said a new pipeline and reverse osmosis desalination units would be built to allow more water from Denmark River Dam to be used to supplement Denmark during dry years.
“Currently, only small quantities of water from Denmark River Dam are being used to supplement the town’s primary water source, Quickup Dam,” Ms Davies said.
“That’s because salinity levels in the Denmark source are quite high – meaning the water must be blended with Quickup Dam before being sent to the local treatment plant. This limits the amount of water that can be taken from the Denmark River Dam.
“By installing desalination units at the water treatment plant, the Water Corporation will be able to fully utilise the Denmark River Dam and help secure Denmark’s water supplies into the future.”
Work will also begin on constructing 3.4 kilometres of new pipeline between Denmark River and Quickup Dam and a 700 metre extension to an existing pipeline. These pipelines will allow more flexibility when using the two water sources to supply Denmark residents.
“Subject to approvals, the corporation plans to have the pipelines and the desalination units installed and supplying water to the residents of Denmark before summer,” the Minister said.
Fact File
- Bureau of Meteorology data shows the driest year on record in Denmark was 1940, when the town received just 736mm of rainfall. In 2014, the town received only 766.7mm and experienced its driest August on record.
- It is anticipated that with the installation of the pipeline and desalination units, Denmark River Dam could provide an additional 650 million litres of water to supply Denmark residents each year.
