What environmental impacts is the plant likely to have?
The plant will meet stringent environmental protection criteria and will be designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The Water Corporation has implemented the most intensive ocean monitoring program of any desalination plant in the world at its Kwinana desalination plant. A thorough monitoring program will also be used at the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant. The site is situated near open ocean which has a high energy swell, ensuring the concentrated seawater discharge mixes very quickly with the surrounding seawater. The discharge pipeline will be designed and located to ensure the discharge is rapidly mixed to background salinity levels. The offshore discharge and intake pipelines will be located to minimise any effects on sensitive marine habitats, such as seagrasses and reef systems. The main issues on land are associated with wetlands, clearing of vegetation and fauna that are supported by that vegetation. Impacts will largely be avoided by routing pipe
