New Borroloola water treatment plant improves drinking water

A new water treatment plant has opened in the remote Northern Territory town of Borroloola, providing high-quality drinking water for residents through improved mineral balance and enhanced water disinfection processes,.

The Northern Territory Government invested $6.4 million in the new water treatment plant as groundwater was the town’s only water source, drawing from the Abner Sandstone Aquifer through five bores.

While the previous water supply met Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the potable water had slightly corrosive tendencies, which can contribute to deterioration of old lead-based pipes, pumps and tanks.

The new water treatment plant improves the overall mineral balance and enhances the disinfection of water before it goes to Borroloola homes and businesses. The system is designed to supply up to 3ML of improved drinking water per day in peak demand.

The design phase was managed entirely through a 3D modelling representation. The new water treatment plant underwent assembly and extensive testing in Darwin before installation in Borroloola by Power and Water. To overcome the geographical and logistical challenges, the upgraded water treatment plant was delivered through an innovative, containerised solution.

Power and Water Chief Executive, Michael Thomson, said the project had gained national industry attention because of the way it has been delivered with various levels of complexity, as well as the logistical and geographical challenges of building critical infrastructure in remote communities.

“In previous years, we would have built a conventional water treatment plant on site, but we came up with a better solution to deliver improved services,” Mr Thomson said.

This upgrade will secure Borroloola’s water supply system for the next 30 years and also incorporates the ability to service Garawa town camps into the future.

Minister for Renewables and Essential Services, Dale Wakefield, said, “Water is a precious resource, and as part of this upgrade, we have been working with the Borroloola community to raise awareness around the health benefits of drinking water as well as the conservation of water.”

Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, said, “This is a great innovation, and will go towards improving the quality of the town’s water supply.”

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