The project seeks to use ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LED) disinfection technology to assess the removal of pathogenic species from contaminated ground and surface water. It aims to increase access to safe and reliable drinking water in remote and First Nations communities.
The project will implement a practical pilot demonstration to determine the suitability of using repurposed membranes in water treatment. Membranes result from water and wastewater treatment and end up in landfill.
The pilot will look at using the membranes in a range of varying conditions and locations to treat brackish water in dispersed small:
The project will research the effectiveness of Continuous Electrochlorination (CEC) in disinfecting drinking water, compared with conventional chlorination systems. The project aims to address water quality issues faced by regional, remote and First Nations communities.
Research will include:
Groundwater in inland Western Australia is typically brackish with a high silica and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration. These high concentrations make conventional Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination less favourable due to the build-up of precipitate and scale and associated ongoing maintenance costs.
The project is a practical pilot to test water desalination technology under a range of conditions. It will also test how suitable the water is for use at the remote locations of Cue and Meekatharra.
This project is a pilot to test the economic, environmental and technical viability of a water treatment unit in the remote First Nations community of Burringurrah. The treatment unit removes heavy metal and nitrate from water. The unit being piloted is the Beta Generation 2 water treatment unit.
Poor water quality fit for drinking is an ongoing issue for regional, remote and First Nations Communities.
It can lead to severe health impacts and consequences especially for First Nations communities.
The project will test EcoVAP Evaporative Matrix panels which can increase the evaporation rate of reject water from desalination systems.
Increasing evaporation of reject water from desalination systems can minimise the environmental impact caused by brines and other waste streams from water treatment plants. The technology will be trialled at the Laverton Water Treatment Plant in regional Western Australia (WA). It will enable testing under a range of conditions to determine the suitability of the technology for dispersed small:
The project is looking into subsurface intakes as a practical solution to water deficiencies faced by desalination technologies. When compared to current intake systems, subsurface intakes have the potential to:
Desalination processes create large quantities of brine which can be costly to dispose of, particularly for inland and remote communities. The project will look at how brine management issues such as this can be removed.
The project will research and pilot brine utilisation technologies to enhance the uptake of seawater and brackish water in Australia. Research will look at how the water could be used under a range of conditions in regional and remote areas for:
The Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North of SA rely on environmental water sources including the Great Artesian Basin, River Murray and groundwater aquifers for community and industrial use. A secure water supply is critical for the development of a hydrogen industry, and any related green industrialisation in the region.
Northern Water, when built, would deliver climate independent water to support industries critical to achieving net zero by 2050, including renewable industries and the development of critical mineral resources.
Rising groundwater and soil salinity is a threat to agricultural production in the Lower Burdekin region. It leads to run-off which impacts downstream environments, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Ramsar wetlands at Bowling Green Bay.
The project will investigate options to mitigate rising groundwater levels and high salinity. It will then implement the strategy identified to best address the issue.
Options being explored include: