Libs hope to tap Wellington Dam
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The State Government says Wellington Dam could provide 45 gigalitres of potable water to Perth. (ABC TV)
The newly appointed Minister for Water, Graham Jacobs, is hoping to turn Wellington Dam, south of Perth, into a drinking water source by 2015.
Dr Jacobs says a study will be conducted to examine whether the saline dam can be turned into a potable water source for Perth consumers and South West irrigators.
He says currently 45 gigalitres of water from the dam runs out to sea each year and is wasted.
Dr Jacobs says desalinating the water would take relatively little effort compared to desalinating seawater.
"The salinity of the Wellington Dam is about a sixth of that of seawater," he said.
"Seawater is 36 parts per million of salt and the saline water that's discharged by Wellington Dam is about six parts per million so it's easier to desalinate."
Dr Jacobs says Wellington Dam would deliver an extra 45 gigalitres of water to Perth.
"I mean a gigalitre is about 444 Olympic swimming pools so that is an awful lot of water if you multiply that by 45," he said.
