Gold Coast desalination plant at Tugun will be providing water to the southern Gold Coast

THE Gold Coast Desalination Plant is back in action again and pumping water heading for your tap. But what has got the $1.2 billion plant whirring back to life?

The desalination plant at Tugun

The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is ramping up its water production once again while the Mudgeeraba treatment plant is offline.

The traditional water treatment facility will be temporarily offline while critical infrastructure maintenance is performed.

The $1.2 billion plan will this week provide up to 60 million litres of drinking water each day to supply more than 170,000 residents on the southern Gold Coast.

Suburbs to be supplied include Robina, Palm Beach, Currumbin and Mudgeeraba.

Seqwater Acting Chief Executive Officer Jim Pruss said the Tugun desalination plant would increase its production from today.

“This is about being smart about how we use our water grid assets in the most effective and efficient way possible,” Mr Pruss said.

“The desalination plant is the best option available to ensure the ongoing supply of a safe and reliable water supply while maintenance is conducted at the Mudgeeraba plant.”

The plant was built in 2010, and generally operates in ‘hot standby’ mode, ready to increase production if and when required. It is the fourth time since 2015 that the desalination plant has been used to maintain drinking water supply outside of emergencies.

Originally published as Gold Coast desalination plant at Tugun will be providing water to the southern Gold Coast