Exmouth water source planning
Project goal:
Work is underway to identify a new water source to secure Exmouth's drinking water supply through to 2050.
Status:
In planning
Delivery Date:
Selection of preferred option in 2025
What's happening?
Water Corporation have commenced investigations to identify a new drinking water source for Exmouth to meet projected future demand.
The new source will cater for the impacts of climate change and secure Exmouth's water supply for the future.
Where does Exmouth currently get its water?
Exmouth's water is supplied from 34 production bores which draw from a groundwater aquifer. The borefield extends for 10km, comprising 6 bores within the Exmouth Town Groundwater Subarea and the remaining 28 bores within the Exmouth Central Groundwater Subarea, located further south of the townsite (see map).
The existing borefield is designed and operated to abstract water at low rates to mitigate saline intrusion and maintain conditions to support stygofauna habitat across the borefield. The Exmouth borefield relies on heavy episodic rainfall events in summer/autumn and winter rainfall for recharge. The Water Corporation abstracts water under a DWER abstraction licence.
How much water do we need?
With a growing population, it’s estimated Exmouth will need an extra 1 billion litres per annum to meet projected demand by 2050.
What options are being considered for a new water source?
The two main options being considered for Exmouth's next drinking water source are:
- Expansion into the groundwater sub area to the south – accessing up to 0.5GL/year of the 4GL/year currently available in DWER’s allocation plan for the Exmouth South Groundwater Sub Area. See map of investigation areas below.
- Develop a climate independent small-scale seawater desalination plant - sites have been assessed through a Multi Criteria Analysis which considered the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) ‘Cumulative Impacts Report’, for new development in the Exmouth Gulf. See map of investigation area below.
When will a decision on the new source be made?
Planning is in the investigations stage, and we’re committed to getting this right. Throughout this stage we’ll be assessing how options can be delivered with the lowest environmental impact, in the required timeframe, and with the greatest long-term benefit to the community. 
Engagement with key stakeholders commenced in early 2023, and we will continue to consult with key stakeholders and the community throughout to ensure we understand social, environmental, cultural, heritage and operational requirements associated with each option.
Following thorough engagement, we will complete environmental and heritage surveys and studies to inform a decision on the preferred option (borefield expansion or seawater desalination) which is expected in 2025.
Water Corporation is the principal supplier of water, wastewater, drainage and some bulk irritation services in Western Australia to homes, businesses and farms. We are regulated by DWER and Department of Health. Supply of water is licensed by the Department of Water.
Water Corporation has licenses with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to abstract water from two groundwater subareas. This is through 6 bores within the Exmouth Town Groundwater Subarea and 28 bores within the Exmouth Central Groundwater Subarea, which is located further south of the townsite.
These licenses are due for renewal in January 2027. There are three other groundwater sub areas in Exmouth, to the north, south and to the west of the existing borefield, from which Water Corporation does not abstract water.
Water Corporation is licensed to take up to 1.032 gigalitres (1.032 billion litres) per annum from the Exmouth borefield, which relies on heavy episodic rainfall events in summer/autumn and winter rainfall for recharge.
Growth in annual demand at Exmouth has been low but steady since 2010 and is now approaching our abstraction licences. As annual demand may exceed the abstraction licence towards the end of this decade, source expansion will be required to provide an additional 1 billion litres per annum to meet future demand to 2050.
- Expansion or increased abstraction of the current borefield in the existing Exmouth Town and Exmouth Central groundwater areas – This was not a viable long-term option due to allocation and environmental impact.
Options being considered for further investigation to meet future demand include:
- Expansion into the groundwater subarea to the south – accessing up to 0.5GL/year of the 4GL/year currently available in DWER’s allocation plan for the Exmouth South Groundwater Sub Area.
- Develop a climate independent small-scale seawater desalination plant.
The infrastructure required when building a seawater desalination plant includes:
- An intake location where the seawater feeds into the treatment process. An intake that captures good quality clean seawater is important in reducing the complexity of the treatment process, its environmental footprint and improving the reliability of water supply. This can be achieved by an open seawater intake or subsurface water intake such as a coastal bore.
- A location to build a desalination plant to treat the seawater preferably in close proximity to the coast. A multi-criteria analysis has identified a number of site options and we are currently undertaking due diligence with stakeholders on potential locations.
- A brine outfall which disposes of the salty water following the treatment process into the ocean.
- Power supply, with the aim to utilise renewable power to align with Water Corporation’s objective to be net zero by 2035.
- Transfer infrastructure (pipes and pumps) to connect the treated drinking water to the scheme.
On average new sources typically take up to 8 years to deliver from investigation through to construction and commissioning, however Exmouth has complex ecological and cultural values that may impact this.
As we progress our investigations and engagement, we will be able to improve our estimate of a delivery timeframe.
Our next step is to connect with stakeholders and the community. We want to understand the social, environmental, cultural, and operational impacts of each option.
Our project team will host face to face drop in sessions in the new year so we can hear your thoughts and answer any questions you may have. We will be in touch soon with dates and times for these sessions.
If you’d like to provide feedback now, click here to have your say.
5 December 2024
We will soon be commencing marine investigations in Exmouth Gulf. These investigations will help us gather information to identify a preferred location for a potential Exmouth Seawater Desalination Plant (SDP) intake and outfall, understand the operating risks of the proposed location and to inform an environmental impact assessment. Additionally, the water quality data will inform potential treatment processes required for a proposed SDP.
Work will begin in December 2024. Further sampling and data collection will take place on a quarterly basis for up to 24 months, with some potential event-based sampling following certain weather or environmental events. Check out our marine investigations fact sheet on the webpage for more information.
10 September 2024
It was great to meet with so many of you at our community drop-in sessions at the end of August. We spoke to over 130 people over the two days and got really great insight into your thoughts on the investigation areas for the groundwater and desalination options.
If you weren't able to attend either of the sessions, please get in touch using the contact details on the webpage and we would be happy to provide further information.
12 August 2024
The project team will be hosting two drop-in sessions in Exmouth on these dates.
- Ningaloo Centre, Mandu Mandu West Room on Friday 30 August from 12.30pm - 4.30pm and
- Ross Street Mall, near Exmouth IGA, Saturday, 31 August from 8am - 12pm.
Drop by to find out more about these investigations, we look forward to seeing you there!
8 May 2023
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and Water Corporation have commissioned an aerial electromagnetic (AEM) survey in Exmouth to detect groundwater sources and support future water supply planning work.
This information will be used to support DWER’s water allocation planning and Water Corporation’s future water source planning investigations for the Exmouth water supply scheme.
Full details via the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) aerial electromagnetic (AEM) survey (May/June 2023) document.
Contact Us
Carina Harris - Community Engagement Specialist