23/5/06
Water Resources Minister John Kobelke today presented the CSIRO with Premier's Water Foundation grants totalling $600,000 for two major water research projects.
"The two projects are investigating new ways to conserve and re-use water," Mr Kobelke said.
"They are examples of the State Government's diverse, well-planned, demand management approach to securing Western Australia's water future.
"The State Water Strategy has highlighted the potential for recycling to provide water suitable for irrigated horticulture, green space irrigation and industry."
One project valued at $2.3million is investigating how to better protect and manage alternative water sources in Perth and assessing how to manage and make better use of non-drinking water.
The second $3million project is looking at managed aquifer recharge. It involves taking treated wastewater from Perth's Wastewater Treatment Plants and infiltrating it into Perth's superficial aquifer.
"Managed aquifer recharge has the potential to play an important role in the sustainable management of our State's water resources," the Minister said.
He said the outcomes would help develop guidelines for water recycling, including meeting national guidelines.
The payments are the second instalment of a total grant of $1.5million for the two projects. CSIRO, through the Federal Government and the Water Corporation, is also providing significant funding for the project.
In the first round of grants in 2004, the foundation allocated more than $2.5million to eight projects, which leveraged a further $9.24million of research funding for the State. The foundation is currently evaluating a further 10 short-listed projects with a total estimated expenditure of more than $15million.
"The funding demonstrates the State Government's commitment to research and development and securing a sustainable water future for WA," Mr Kobelke said.
"A single new water source to fix our future water needs has been an unrealistic dream.
"To meet the challenge of water demands from our population growth and in the face of a drying climate and falling stream flows, we are securing our future by diversifying our approaches and seeking innovative, scientifically-based solutions to be implemented through a range of solutions."
The research is part of collaboration between CSIRO, Water Corporation, The University of WA, Curtin University, Centre for Groundwater Studies and the Chemistry Centre and is part of the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, a CSIRO initiative.
Minister's office: 9222 9211
