The first desalinated water has been pumped through the pipes of Adelaide’s new desal plant and should be flowing through the taps of southern suburban homes within weeks.
Water minister Paul Caica today took the first few gulps from a tap at the Port Stanvac plant, which has cost taxpayers $1.83 billion.
“I’m very excited that I’m here drinking this first permeate, this first water that has been produced by the desalination plant - a desalination plant that is very important to the future of this state,” he said.
He said the milestone was a “crucial” step in securing a South Australian water supply which would remain constant regardless of climatic conditions.
He said the decision to build the desalination plant was made after experiencing the most horrendous drought the state had ever seen in 2006-2007.
“It compromised our water security, in fact people do not realise how close we were to sailing into the wind.”
“The decision to build was one that was undertaken in such a way that we would never find ourselves in such a position like that in a future drought.”
Chlorine, lime and fluoride will be added to the desalinated water which will be pumped to the Happy Valley reservoir where it will be blended with the water supply.
