Sydney dam water levels dropping rapidly but Kurnell desalination plant may not be ready
SYDNEY’S dam levels are dropping at such a rapid rate the city could be forced to rely on the desalination plant by October, with rain last weekend failing to stem the decline.
NSW
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SYDNEY’S dam levels are dropping at such a rapid rate the city could be forced to rely on the desalination plant by October, with rain last weekend failing to stem the decline.
Pressure is mounting on the state government to ensure the desalination plant at Kurnell is ready for use immediately after original advice it would not be needed until December.
Water storage levels are at 65.1 per cent — dropping at a rate of 0.8 per cent a week — and perilously close to the 60 per cent threshold when the desalination plant is required.
However, Utilities Minister Don Harwin confidently told state parliament 10 days ago that “the chances of our water storage getting to 60 per cent are quite low” and that testing at the desalination plant would be “finished by December”.
“There will be no difficulty commissioning the plant to ramp it up to full production when testing is complete in December,” he said.
However, at the current rate of decline, the state could require the services of the desalination plant as soon as October.
Asked yesterday, a spokeswoman for Mr Harwin said “the desalination plant will be able to meet full production if and when required”.
However, she urged households to follow “common sense tips on how to save water and money”, saying this would make a difference without the need for water restrictions.
“During this prolonged dry period water conservation and security for Greater Sydney remains a high priority for the NSW government and Sydney Water,” the spokeswoman said.
Labor water spokesman Chris Minns said Mr Harwin’s “maths just doesn’t add up”.
“The minister said in parliament that testing would be finished by December however on the current rate of decline the desalination plant will be needed in October,” Mr Minns said.
“He needs to prove to the people of NSW that he hasn’t been washing away their water rates down the drain.”
The desalination plant, which converts seawater to potable drinking water, sustained severe damage in a 2015 storm and has required repairs and testing to ready it for use again.
The government has repeatedly stated it would be ready “by December”.