What happens at a Seawater Desalination Plant | Our water world 

Hello @Zzudwa, we will absolutely continue to adapt and provide water infrastructure to our growing community. Our current circumstances provide us with real chances to transform the way we live and use our resources wisely, especially given the changing water availability across the state. Saving this precious resource is more crucial than ever. Let's make a positive impact together! 💧 🌍 ~ Gideon

If you did'nt understand before , there's a chance you got indoctrinated !

Someone has told her what to say , naturally !

Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it ~ Mary

Many years ago , i was lazy too !

@@Kimhjortsbjerg what now?

Thank you for your feedback J R! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed this virtual tour 💧 We do have a "dams and catchments" video which you'll find here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OqMAaD61Tx0.html. If there's a particular angle you'd like more information on, please let us know! Regards ~ Lara

Thank you - we hope you enjoyed our desalination tour!

Thank you 🙂We currently have two desalination plants (a third is underway) and began our desalination operations back in 2006. Desalinated seawater is an important source of water for our customers here in Western Australia, accounting for up to half of our supply (using the most recent 5 year average). More information on our supply is available at bit.ly/WC-ClimateWater. Thank you ~ Lara

Thank you, we're glad you enjoyed this video. ~ Lara

Thank you, Faruq Atilola! Desalination is certainly an interesting subject and such a huge part of how we secure our water supply here in Western Australia. ~ Lara

Hi Ed! Thank you - Desalination is a pretty cool process! Our desalination plants meet stringent environmental protection criteria and are designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Salt and other impurities which are removed from seawater during the desalination process are returned to the ocean via diffusers, mixing quickly with the seawater to have minimal impact on the surrounding marine environment (meeting all environmental compliance requirements). You can find further information on this topic via the link in our post; bit.ly/3hrqTMT (as well as an underwater view at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qAcxK5mYtSc.html). Regards ~ Lara

Hi Terry, we're glad to hear that you found this information interesting 🙂 We have additional information at bit.ly/3hrqTMT which also touches on the journey of salt in this process. We did explore alternate salt options and unfortunately they were deemed as economically nonviable due to land requirements, cost, transport and quality requirements. As such the best outcome is returning salt to the sea in accordance with environmental protection criteria. Regards ~ Lara

It's not really an answer tbh. How exactly you maintaining the process of dumping the salt back into the ocean and why exactly do you consider it as an environmentally safe option? Why simply selling salt products to consumers isn't a financially reasonable option?

Thanks for your follow-up questions @Zzudwa - Around 40% of the water that goes through our desalination plants comes out as fresh drinking water. The remainder is pumped back into the ocean through ocean outfall. As it is more salty than normal seawater, special diffusers ensure it mixes quickly and thoroughly back into the sea. Outfall diffusers in Australia are designed so that salty brine does not harm the environment - Our diffusers are 500m out to sea where ocean tides and currents continue to mix with the concentrated water. Within 50m of the diffuser outlet, the concentrate is back to normal seawater salinity levels. We continue to monitor the ocean environment and report to relevant environmental agencies. The requirements for the storage, processing and packaging of salt, for use commercially or by retail, is an example of one of the hindrances to this reuse option at present. We do however continue to explore opportunities to repurpose biproducts from our water supply operations - See some current solutions via www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Environment-and-sustainability. Regards ~ Lara

@@Watercorpwa Hi Lara, thx for extended explanation, that was really interesting to know. By the way what is about utilizing/recycling used filtering cells? Are they waste or do you wash and reuse them?

Hello @Zzudwa, great question! Our filtering cells undergo regular in-place flushes and cleans during operation, extending their performance for up to 5-10 years. When they finally retire, we're actively researching ways to reuse or recycle them - options include providing it to industries like mining or agriculture for non-potable water use and contributing to construction materials or waste-to-energy. Rest assure we are continuously researching for more sustainable options! 🔄 💧 ~ Gideon

Great question - thank you! Salt/brine is returned to the ocean via a diffuser 500m out to sea where ocean tides and currents continue to mix with the concentrated water. Within 50m of the diffuser outlet, the concentrate is back to normal seawater salinity levels. We continue to monitor the ocean environment and report to relevant environmental agencies. More information on this topic (as well as an underwater view) is available via bit.ly/3JWjVeG. Thank you ~ Lara

Strangely, no one has the slightest idea, so much for the sustainability of that project! Jump easily and elephant over the problem!

@@Watercorpwa thanks for the reply

Could've sell the brine to flow battery companies that uses bromine.

For clarity, salt/brine from our desalination plants is returned to the ocean via a diffuser 500m out to sea where ocean tides and currents continue to mix with the concentrated water. Within 50m of the diffuser outlet, the concentrate is back to normal seawater salinity levels - An underwater view is available via www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Desalination/Southern-Seawater-Desalination-Plant. Our desalination plants meet stringent environmental protection criteria - We continue to monitor the ocean environment and report to relevant environmental agencies. They're designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment - Due to the high energy swell, the discharged concentrated seawater mixes quickly. The offshore discharge and intake pipelines are designed and located to minimise any effects on sensitive marine habitats, such as seagrasses and reef systems. Regards ~ Lara

Hello, seawater desalination is an expensive system of sourcing water for the community, this is why it's important to implement sustainable energy solutions in desalination operations. Desalination is very important to us here in Western Australia as we've had a decline of ~20% in rainfall to some of our southern regions and a knock-on effect of more than 80% reduction in streamflow into our dams. We encourage you to explore the resources available through the International Water Association to learn more about how worldwide utilities are managing their water supply; iwa-network.org/. Thanks ~ Lara

To uncover the content from our fast-forward portion, you can review the video transcript here: bit.ly/3KsuZ5k. ~ Lara

Hello, we encourage you to visit the website of the Australian Water Association where you can find information about international programs to support information and collaborations of this nature; www.awa.asn.au/programs/international. You'll also find the option to register with them to discuss opportunities to share knowledge here: www.awa.asn.au/contact-us. Kind regards ~ Lara

More information on our Southern Seawater Desalination Plant is available at www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Desalination/Southern-Seawater-Desalination-Plant. ~ Lara

Hi @gregorymalchuk272 we hear what you're saying and will take this on board for future productions. On this occasion, to uncover the content from our fast-forward portion, you can review the video transcript here: bit.ly/3KsuZ5k. ~ Lara

Hopefully our recent reply, to your other question, referring you to the Australian Water Association helps with this question. Thank you ~ Lara

She mentioned that later it got more technical so maybe they didn't expect viewers to show up with a brain bigger than a chicken's, or maybe it's the IQ size of the entire company? Who knows ? I'm sorry to say it so bluntly !

Hi Kim, our customers and social media audiences represent a huge cross-section of ages and varying levels of understanding when it comes to water literacy. Our content is also used in schools to support lessons and beyond, so it's important for us to ensure that it's easily consumable and not over-complex. For those who are interested in learning or discussing more about the inner workings of our operations, we accept questions through social media or our online enquiry form here: bit.ly/3ShzIYA. Thanks ~ Lara

Thanks for your feedback, we'll take this on board! To uncover the content from our fast-forward portion, you can review the video transcript here: bit.ly/3KsuZ5k. ~ Lara

Thanks for sharing! ~ Lara

Hi Cole, thanks for your enquiry! You're welcome to refer to our RU-vid videos however if there's an opportunity you'd like to chat through in more detail, please feel free to submit an enquiry via our website so that our support team can assist; bit.ly/3qkh9L6 (find the blue "other enquiries form" button). Thanks ~ Lara

Hello, please feel free to register technical questions via our enquiry portal for a response from our desalination department; Form available at bit.ly/3qkh9L6. Regards ~ Lara

Perhaps there's an opportunity on the horizon JT - Stay in tune with our latest career pathways at bit.ly/WC-CareerOpportunities. ~ Lara

Have you heard the news? Alkimos has been selected as the preferred location for our next desalination plant - You can find more information here: bit.ly/3URBUqV. Thanks ~ Lara

@@Watercorpwa That is fantastic news, ThankYou for letting us know Lara. Would be nice if Twiggy reached into his petty cash tin and donated $3.8B 😏❤️

Thanks for your question! The Water Services Association of Western Australia has reported on water source solutions and related cost which you can explore via their website; www.wsaa.asn.au/publication/all-options-table-urban-water-supply-options-australia. The cheapest source of water is water that we can save through adopting water-efficient behaviours and fixtures. Thanks ~ Lara

Some that i worked on about 15 years ago were smaller and they cost $30,000 US each.

Hello, we appreciate your question and encourage you to register it via our enquiry form at bit.ly/3qkh9L6 so that one of our desalination experts can assist. Thanks ~ Lara

Hi Sk Soyeb, thanks for your question. Salt/brine is returned to the ocean via a diffuser 500m out to sea where ocean tides and currents continue to mix with the concentrated water. Within 50m of the diffuser outlet, the concentrate is back to normal seawater salinity levels. This information and more is available via the link in our original post [bit.ly/3hrqTMT] however if you have any more questions please let us know. Furthermore, we continue to monitor the ocean environment and report to relevant environmental agencies. You can also see more of the desalination process at bit.ly/3JWjVeG. Thank you ~ Lara

I also worry of this, as many more desalination plants are in operation over the world. How will the sea life deal with the increase of salt in the sea in the future?

Hi Lex, is that code for you "preferred the content as of the 2 minute mark"? ~ Lara

We love knowing you're interested in more detailed information! 🌊. You can access a text version of the fast forward portion via the video transcript; www.watercorporation.com.au/School-programs/Water-supply-and-water-conservation/Virtual-tours. Regards ~ Lara

@@Watercorpwa thank you so much means a lot ❤️

Hi Vignesh V, it sounds like you may be asking about careers in the water industry with us? If so, you can learn more on our website www.watercorporation.com.au/careers. Regards ~ Water Corporation

I suspect it could be a Chinese who has learned English?

Hi James, we encourage you to consider downloading the video to help improve your individual experience. Our audience, through our various social media channels, has confirmed this content is functional and informative. ~ Lara

Our apologies! This detail is available on our website; "Now, for the super high-tech section, reverse osmosis or RO. This part of the process requires extremely high pressure. Previously, we were at approximately three bar. We need to get the pressure up to 57 bar. How much is 57 bar? Well, it would push a column of water more than 570 meters vertically up into the air, along with high pressure pumps, we use regenerated pressure energy from the RO process to help generate the 57 bar. It all happens inside these energy recovery devices, which work by capturing the hydraulic energy from the high pressure, RO reject stream levels of seawater inside the rotor. The seawater leaves the device at high pressure and the RO reject at low pressure. If you're one of the small number of viewers that understood all that. Congratulations. For the rest of us, it simply means we recover and reuse most of the energy in a very clever way." ~ Lara