Media Update, page-3280

Still amazed that we cannot get traction in our own back yard, even in historically water stressed areas that should be early adopters of new water technologies! This is going to affect the city's revenues but the solution is water restrictions rather than better waste water treatment from the city and re-treatment by the mining companies. Surely Fluence could be part of the solution here???
Meeting to discuss ways to conserve City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s limited recycled water supply

Eleven recommendations to conserve the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s limited recycled water supply will be considered by councillors at a crisis meeting on Monday night.
It comes after the City announced water allocations to local schools, parks and ovals would be restricted amid low water levels at the Piccadilly Street dam.
Collectively, the City’s five dams are holding just 34 per cent of their total capacity, with an estimated 10 per cent evaporation over the next three months expected to reduce supplies even more.



In a report set to be considered by councillors, City staff said recycled water demand was outstripping supply by 1.3 megalitres a day.
“In essence, the recycled water users in the City are consuming 1.3ML every day from water stored in the Swan Lakes dams,” the report said.
“Taking the balance of water in the dams at 130ML, a current consumption rate of 1.3ML/d will result in the current stored water being consumed in 100 days.
“This situation is clearly untenable and immediate and appropriate actions to extend the current water supply are recommended.”
City staff will recommend water restrictions will be the most common and effective means to reduce consumption in order to to extend the available water resources.
A level five water restriction would see a 50 per cent reduction to current water allocations, with the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Golf Course expected to be exempt from the rule.
The water collected in the City’s dams is sewage effluent and harvested stormwater used for irrigating City-owned open spaces and community facilities, including the golf course.
It is also supplied to private irrigators and local industry, including a 1.7GL contract with the under-construction Lynas Rare Earths facility.
The report said the restrictions would also affect the City’s revenue, with an almost $6000 a day loss from industrial contracts, totalling $2.17 million annually.
A revenue reduction from private irrigation customers is estimated at $60,000.