COM: Port Stanvac Desalination Plant | 100gL | $1.8b

[victorious80]

No, it's because the rest of the route's already there.

really? do tell. I thought there was the need for a new 'large' pipeline? i've obviously missed something here...

Yes you have: the idea's been scrapped, and SRW posted the news report here yesterday.

The proposed link between the two reservoirs was never part of this project. currently they are bulding the desal plant, and the pipeline to Happy Valley. the link between the two reservoirs may or may not go ahead in the future, but is a completely separate project and does not affect the current works.

[Wayno]

slight change of subject:

How is SA's water distribution organised today, and how is that expected to change once the desal plant is online? The desal plant is being touted as initially supplying 25% of adelaide water supply with the ability to expand to 50% later on.

Presumably the southern suburb reservoirs (happy valley, myponga) will be 100% local catchment and desal (no murray river water) with the northern suburb reservoirs being a mix of murray river, local catchment and desal water. Also presumably the reservoirs in the northern regions of the state (pt pirie, etc) will remain a mix of local catchment + murray river.

Is that true?

[fabricator]

The only external water source to the main reservoirs was the pipeline from Mannum, hence while technically there is a pipeline linking them all together, its heading in the wrong direction, and may require some changes.

[Wayno]

The only external water source to the main reservoirs was the pipeline from Mannum, hence while technically there is a pipeline linking them all together, its heading in the wrong direction, and may require some changes.

To where does the mannum pipeline flow?

Does anyone know of a map that shows the reservoir linkages and water flow directions? even better would be a map that incorporates desal water flows as well.

[bs]

The only external water source to the main reservoirs was the pipeline from Mannum, hence while technically there is a pipeline linking them all together, its heading in the wrong direction, and may require some changes.

The Mannum pipeline only connects to the northern reservoirs. There is a second pipeline from Murray Bridge which is fed into the Mt Bold and Happy Valley Reservoirs. The majority of the water in those reservoirs comes from the Murray River.

The five major pipelines are,

• Morgan to Whyalla
• Mannum to Adelaide
• Murray Bridge to Onkaparinga
• Swan Reach to Stockwell
• Tailem Bend to Keith.

[Aidan]

The only external water source to the main reservoirs was the pipeline from Mannum, hence while technically there is a pipeline linking them all together, its heading in the wrong direction, and may require some changes.

The Mannum pipeline only connects to the northern reservoirs. There is a second pipeline from Murray Bridge which is fed into the Mt Bold and Happy Valley Reservoirs. The majority of the water in those reservoirs comes from the Murray River.

The five major pipelines are,

• Morgan to Whyalla
• Mannum to Adelaide
• Murray Bridge to Onkaparinga
• Swan Reach to Stockwell
• Tailem Bend to Keith.

The pipeline from Morgan doesn't just go to Whyalla - there's a branch to Woomera, and I think it's also connected to the Eyre Peninsula's water supply network.

Does anyone know of a map that shows the reservoir linkages and water flow directions? even better would be a map that incorporates desal water flows as well.

There's a diagram of the major pipelines at http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Whats ... ateSummary but it doesn't show all the main pipes in the metro area.
http://www.atlas.sa.gov.au does, but only on some scales, and doesn't distinguish between them and the smaller water mains. But Desalinated water is going to go to a storage tank by the Happy Valley Reservoir, where it will be mixed with treated reservoir water. From there it will use the existing pipes to the rest of Adelaide.

[Wayno]

But Desalinated water is going to go to a storage tank by the Happy Valley Reservoir, where it will be mixed with treated reservoir water. From there it will use the existing pipes to the rest of Adelaide.

Seems SA Water still intends to build a new pipeline...

An article in the Eastern Courier says that while the 'large $300m pipeline through the eastern suburbs' has been scrapped, they still must build a new pipeline to send water from Happy Valley further north.

Karlene Maywald was quoted in the Courier as saying "SA Water would now investigate building a series of smaller pipelines and pumping stations to minimise the impact on residents". Details about the path of the smaller pipelines has not yet been made public.

[ozisnowman]

I have some photos of the construction of the desalination plant, some are aerial so they
give a good perspective. Does someone have an email so they can upload these images.
I will then endevour to get them on in the next few days.

[Wayno]

from abc online:

Desal power contract for AGL

Energy company AGL has been given a 20-year contract to supply the electricity needs of the Port Stanvac desalination plant in Adelaide. AGL says the plant will been powered by renewable energy from its existing generators and accredited sources in SA.

Premier Mike Rann says the contract will achieve the best environmental outcome. "The deal we've struck guarantees that the desal plant is totally 100 per cent powered by renewable energy, by certified green energy and also that this green energy is sourced out of South Australia," he said.

The plant is expected to produce fresh water by the end of next year.

[AtD]

I have some photos of the construction of the desalination plant, some are aerial so they
give a good perspective. Does someone have an email so they can upload these images.
I will then endevour to get them on in the next few days.

Have you tried attaching them to a post? Click Reply, then "Upload Attachment" under the submit button.

[Briggzy_03]

A pretty big crane was installed on the site this week.

The laying of the pipeline is nearly finished along lonsdale road and work should start along majors road soon. The traffic delays are bloody annoying

[Aidan]

A pretty big crane was installed on the site this week.

The laying of the pipeline is nearly finished along lonsdale road and work should start along majors road soon. The traffic delays are bloody annoying

Isn't the pipeline going to be several hundred metres S of Majors Road?

[deano91]

The laying of the pipeline is nearly finished along lonsdale road and work should start along majors road soon. The traffic delays are bloody annoying

So it's safe for me to drive along Lonsdale Road now without the risk of pulling my hair out in frustration? That's a bloody relief, it's so much faster for me to get to Noarlunga along that road rather than along South or Panalatinga Road...

[mattblack]

A pretty big crane was installed on the site this week.

The laying of the pipeline is nearly finished along lonsdale road and work should start along majors road soon. The traffic delays are bloody annoying

Isn't the pipeline going to be several hundred metres S of Majors Road?

Yep, Its going through padocks on the south of Majors rd and it looks just about complete already as well as the connection to the reservoir on South rd.

[Wayno]

A pretty big crane was installed on the site this week.

The laying of the pipeline is nearly finished along lonsdale road and work should start along majors road soon. The traffic delays are bloody annoying

Isn't the pipeline going to be several hundred metres S of Majors Road?

Yep, Its going through padocks on the south of Majors rd and it looks just about complete already as well as the connection to the reservoir on South rd.

Driving on south rd today there's a bunch of red traffic cones lined up into the distance across the paddocks south of majors rd - obviously where the pipe is going to be. Unclear whether it will be above or below ground though...