Port Hedland water source planning
Project goal:
We are commencing water source planning for the Port Hedland Water Supply Scheme to meet projected future demand.
Status:
In planning .
Delivery Date:
Planning activities 2023 - 2025
What’s happening?
We are planning for a new drinking water source for the Port Hedland Water Supply Scheme. The new source will cater for future demand, climate change and secure water supply for the future.
Where does Port Hedland currently get its water? 
The Port Hedland scheme services customers in Port and South Hedland, Wedgefield and Finucane Island. The scheme currently sources water from the De Grey Borefield, located approximately 70 kilometres east of Port Hedland and the Yule Borefield, located approximately 45 kilometres southwest of Port Hedland. The Yule and De Grey Borefields draw water from superficial underground aquifers adjacent to river channels.
Why do we need a new water source?  
Due to forecast demand, we are expecting to require up to an additional 7.5 gigalitres of water per year by around 2030 to service the community and commercial needs in Port Hedland through to 2050.
We’re currently using around 76% of our groundwater license, and forecast demand will take us above what’s available in the existing supply. As such, we’re commencing planning to look for an additional source that can supply the Port Hedland scheme.
Due to long lead times for approvals, design and delivery, planning is underway now. 
What options are being considered?  
The three options being considered for further investigation to meet future demand include:
- A new borefield approximately 25km southeast of the existing De Grey Borefield.
- Expansion of the Yule borefield.
- Development of a local seawater desalination plant at Finucane Island.
Other locations including Beebingarra and Spoil Bank have been considered but ruled out due to community amenity of the locations, environmental risk factors and higher cost compared with Finucane Island.
Depending on how investigations progress, more than one option may be developed over time.
What are the next steps?  
We will consult with key stakeholders and the community to understand social, environmental, cultural, heritage and operational requirements associated with each option.
Following thorough engagement, we plan to progress environmental and heritage surveys and studies to inform option selection and progress approvals with support of stakeholders to ensure the source/s can be developed to meet forecast demand.
We are committed to working closely with stakeholders and the community throughout the entire process.
Project Timeline? 
Engagement commenced in June 2022 with major stakeholders and we’ll continue working with stakeholders and the broader community throughout 2023 - 2024. Investigations to support option selection will progress, including relevant environmental and heritage surveys, exploratory drilling, and marine monitoring over the next 18 months.
A decision on the preferred option is anticipated to be made in 2025 following thorough engagement, allowing time for delivery of the solution to meet future demand.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is responsible for all water and environmental regulation. They determine how much water can be taken from groundwater and surface water resources, while safeguarding the sustainability of the resource and protecting the water dependent environment. Water Corporation is the principal supplier of water, wastewater, drainage and some bulk irrigation services to homes, businesses and farms in Western Australia. DWER and the Department of Health are our regulators, and the Economic Regulatory Authority is responsible for setting Water Corporation's license to operate and supply services.
Water Corporation is licensed to take up to 8 gigalitres (8 billion litres) per year from the De Grey Borefield and 8.5 gigalitres (8.5 billion litres) per year from the Yule Borefield. Both sources rely on cyclones or heavy episodic rainfall events for recharge.
Current scheme demand is approximately 12.5 gigalitres per year which is 76% of our groundwater licence.
Before we determine the location of a preferred water source, we consider the following factors at a minimum:
- Water quality
- Drying climate patterns and rainfall/streamflow data
- Impacts on local ecosystems and flora and fauna habitats
- Aboriginal Heritage and Native Title rights
- Community feedback and impact on private landowners
- Water treatment requirements and amount of water needed
- Cost of supplying water to our customers, including building the required infrastructure
- Seawater intake location - an intake that captures good quality clean seawater is important in reducing the complexity of the treatment process, the size of the plant site, its environmental footprint and ensuring the reliability of water supply. This can be achieved by either an open seawater intake or subsurface water intake.
- Location of plant - locating the seawater desalination plant close to a water source will result in the most efficient design, and will minimise capital and operational requirements, as well as environmental impacts. An area of up to six hectares may be required for the plant, this is dependent on earthworks required for the selected site and the design of the treatment process.
- Location of brine outfall - the salty water that is left at the end of the desalination process is known as brine and is returned to the ocean via an ocean outfall pipeline with diffusers at the end. A suitable outfall location needs to consider ocean movement and mixing of brine to minimise environmental impact.
- 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.
Carina Harris - Community Engagement Specialist