A remote town in Western Australia, Exmouth, is set to host one of the state’s first regional seawater desalination plants. This initiative comes as Exmouth faces mounting pressure on its water supplies due to an influx of visitors, an expanding U.S. military presence, and the effects of a warming climate.
The decision follows an extensive investigation by the state’s Water Corporation into Exmouth’s near-depleted drinking water sources. Located 1,230 kilometers north of Perth, the town currently relies on 34 production bores for its water supply, which depend heavily on rainfall to replenish local aquifers.
According to the Water Corporation, Exmouth’s groundwater reserves often reach capacity, a situation exacerbated by the town’s growing population and tourism. The utility forecasts that Exmouth will require an additional 1.5 billion liters of water annually by 2060, as climate models predict drier conditions for the region.
Desalination: A Necessary Solution
The Water Corporation plans to complete the desalination plant in stages by 2030, pending environmental approvals. The utility’s research indicated that additional groundwater sources south of Exmouth were insufficient to meet long-term demands and posed risks to cultural sites in the Cape Range National Park.
“That’s why desalination is the right choice,” said Evan Hambleton, the general manager of assets, planning, and delivery.
“It’s a secure, climate-independent source that can be scaled over time and helps reduce reliance on groundwater supplies.”
Exmouth’s population more than doubles during peak winter months, with approximately 150,000 tourists visiting annually. Shire President Matthew Niikkula emphasized that this seasonal influx often pushes Exmouth’s water infrastructure to its limits.
“We’re seeing numbers come through Exmouth like we’ve never seen before,” Niikkula stated.
“It’s put our infrastructure at critical bursting point for a long time.”
He advocates for a more expedited timeline for the desalination project, urging the Water Corporation to deliver within one to three years instead of the proposed three to five years.
Future-Proofing Exmouth
While seawater desalination has been crucial for securing Perth’s water supply, its application on a large scale is relatively new for regional Western Australia. Previously, the technology has been used on a smaller scale to secure farm water supplies and restore salt-damaged land.
Steve Riley, president of the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the desalination plant, viewing it as a catalyst for the town’s expansion and infrastructure upgrades.
“There’s no housing up and down the whole coastline,” he said. “We literally can’t build any more houses because we’re out of water. This [desalination plant] opens up that freedom a little bit to take those steps.”
The plant is part of a broader strategy to secure Exmouth’s future, which includes a 9.6-megawatt solar farm expected to supply up to 80 percent of the town’s electricity by next year.
Balancing Growth and Environmental Concerns
The development of Exmouth’s infrastructure coincides with an increased military presence, with the United States expressing interest in the nearby RAAF Learmonth base. The town’s Harold E Holt naval communication base, jointly operated by Australian and U.S. forces, is undergoing its first major upgrade since 1967.
Cr Niikkula, who also chairs the North-West Defence Alliance lobby group, highlighted that water shortages in Exmouth could threaten national security.
“We just all need to make sure that we’re working together to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to be able to handle whatever comes along,” he said.
However, the strategic interests in Exmouth are tempered by environmental concerns. The Water Corporation has identified three potential sites for the desalination plant around the town. Mr. Hambleton noted that at least a year of further study is needed to determine the best locations for seawater intake and outfalls.
The plant’s design will mirror that of a facility under construction in Onslow, with water about twice as saline as normal seawater being returned to the ocean.
“That’s where a lot of work’s going on at the moment — to make sure exactly how we put those in [to] minimize any sort of environmental impacts,” Mr. Hambleton said. “Within 30 or 50 meters of where we put the seawater back … you couldn’t tell the difference between what is just regular seawater and what is the brine area.”
As Exmouth stands on the brink of significant growth, the desalination plant represents a crucial step in ensuring the town’s sustainable development while balancing environmental and strategic considerations.
