Print this page as a project information sheet Water Corporation projectsThe Water Corporation has been undertaking research in order to better understand the groundwater system, and to minimise the impact of its operations on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. There are six projects that the Water Corporation is undertaking for the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy (GSS):
The projects
This project will quantify the strategic importance of Gnangara for public water supply. This resource, which currently provides more than half of the annual demand to the Integrated Water Supply System (IWSS) is also able to provide summer peaking capacity, drought security and is the primary source for the northern suburbs. The resource is also protected against contamination, so requires minimal treatment. This project will develop operational plans for abstraction within a variable range to satisfy operational requirements while minimising impacts on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. This will involve the definition of the management criteria and framework for the Gnangara groundwater system. This project will determine the likely viability of the long-standing proposals for the development of new groundwater schemes at Eglington and Yanchep-Two Rocks, Barragoon north of Yanchep National Park. Advice from Department of Water will be sought as to the likelihood of water allocation before committing to more detailed investigations and planning. The key issue will be the potential for impact on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Further information regarding urban development in this area is required to enable detailed planning of the proposed groundwater schemes. These projects are about linking ecology and water resource management. The aim is to understand better water/vegetation/soil interactions and predict potential impacts of resource development on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Research results are being used to maximise water production from existing assets without impacting on vulnerable ecosystems. This is being done through the use of environmentally sympathetic pumping regimes such as winter pumping and managing the rate of drawdown. The project will also examine the feasibility of storage of superficial water pumped in winter-spring into the Leederville aquifer for recovery in summer-autumn. This project will integrate Department of Water and Water Corporation investigations in the northern Perth basin to improve the existing water model and to develop further a local area model. It will help to identify the degree of ecosystem dependency on groundwater in the Yeal and Pinjar sub-areas, which are the primary impact areas for abstraction from the Leederville and Yarragadee aquifers. One of the new source options currently being considered by the Water Corporation is groundwater replenishment using recycled water. Groundwater replenishment is a process where water from Perth's wastewater treatment plants is treated to the highest standard through a process called reverse osmosis and then pumped back into groundwater. The remaining high quality water would then mix with existing groundwater supplies, and be taken out many years later and treated again for use in Perth's drinking water system. What will these projects achieve?The projects will provide technical input to the GSS Taskforce deliberations. They will clarify the role of the Gnangara groundwater system and its importance in providing source security for the Integrated Water Supply System. For more information on these and other projects, please contact us at gss@water.wa.gov.au |
