Kangaroo Island's new seawater desalination plant

Opportunities to connect to the proposed new water mains network in American River, Baudin Beach, Island Beach and Sapphiretown is a critical part of this project.

A reduced connection fee for new customers in these four communities who opt in before connection works begin will be available. This reduction can be achieved by undertaking connections to properties at the same time as laying the mains in your community.

A fact sheet that outlines details including the cost to connect and our statewide water pricing and an Intent to Connect document, that we ask you to complete and return by 30 April 2021. The fact sheet can be found in the Documents section of this page. Please complete this and return it by 30 April 2021.

There are a number of ways you can get involved.

There is a short survey inviting you to provide information on your current water use and what your future water supply needs could be. This information will help inform the design and scope of new connection opportunities.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions here. This will be updated throughout the project. If your question is not answered, you can ask us here.

You can also talk with us about the project by calling Aaron Glossop on 7424 3195 or email aaron.glossop@sawater.com.au.

To be kept informed as the project progresses, please subscribe to our email list on the right hand side of this page.

In 2018, we released the Kangaroo Island long-term water security plan (the Plan).

The Plan was developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including local government, industry, environment, and community groups, and outlined a framework that will ensure we meet increases in water demand for Kangaroo Island for the next 25 years.

Opportunities and challenges identified in the Plan are balanced across a range of factors, both now and into the future with the aim to ensure a safe, secure and reliable water supply for current and future customers while keeping prices as low and stable as possible.

A number of options to ensure water security were considered during the development of the Plan with an additional desalination plant identified as the preferred option.

While the existing Middle River and Penneshaw water supply networks have adequate capacity to meet current needs and sustain organic growth until about 2036, warm and dry conditions, along with the recent bushfires, has seen an increase in demand placing stress on the Middle River Reservoir.

In response, we are now accelerating the recommendation of the Plan to construct a new desalination plant at Penneshaw along with a new pipeline and associated infrastructure that will connect to the existing Middle River-Kingscote water supply network.