Historic upgrade delivers Oodnadatta’s new water

SA Water customers in Oodnadatta can enjoy a new drinking water supply flowing to their taps for the first time, following the construction of a new desalination plant by SA Water.

The small-scale reverse osmosis plant on Kurka Drive can produce up to 210,000 litres of clean and safe drinking water for local customers each day.

SA Water’s General Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Amanda Lewry said it was an important milestone for the outback town.

“This project will make such a difference to the daily lives of our customers in Oodnadatta, and to see a new supply of drinking water now flowing to their taps is a significant milestone,” Amanda said.

“Sourcing water from the Great Artesian Basin, the plant uses reverse osmosis to treat and remove salt and other impurities commonly found in the state’s groundwater supplies, before the end product is piped to local customers for use in their kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and gardens.

“The plant itself was assembled inside of a protective container in metropolitan Adelaide, before making the 1000-plus kilometre journey to Oodnadatta via truck for final installation.

“Travellers visiting the outback town will also be able to top-up their reusable drinking bottles thanks to the town’s new smart drinking water fountain, designed with a solar-powered chilling system to keep the water cool throughout the hot summer months.

“We are proud to have worked closely with the Oodnadatta community on delivering their new tap water, and the benefits it will bring.”

SA Water’s network in Oodnadatta has historically been designated as a non-drinking supply with appropriate precautions in place, with residents sourcing their drinking water from private rainwater tanks, water carting, bottled products, and localised desalination units.

Progress is also being made on the delivery of desalination facilities in the remote townships of Marla and Marree, to be delivered over the course of the 2020-24 regulatory period.

For more information, visit watertalks.sawater.com.au.

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