Western Australia Minister for Water Dave Kelly

Solar Energy To Power Exmouth’s Water Supply

Victor P Taffa

• 10 new solar powered bores installed at Exmouth’s southern borefield
• Allows for an additional water supply in peak demand
• Local sub-contractors employed as part of the project

Water Corporation has completed work to upgrade Exmouth’s southern borefield with solar power, which means drinking water is now provided to the town thanks to renewable energy.

$2.1 Million project will also enable 10 additional water supply bores to be brought online to supply the growing popular tourist town and help meet peak demand periods.

“This is a great way to take advantage of our abundant sunshine and use renewable energy to reduce the operating costs of supplying water to the town.” Minister for Water Dave Kelly said.

“Solar panels will generate around 144,000 kilowatt hours annually, which is the equivalent energy to power 25 average households for a year.”

Installation of solar panels and the additional bores will increase the capacity of the borefield to produce an additional 500,000 litres of water each day.

Solar power will be used to pump water from the borefield to a 5 Million litre water storage tank, which then supplies water to the Exmouth community.

Construction on this project started in June 2016 and was completed at the end of September 2017.

Perth-based company, EMC Solar Construction completed the work for the Water Corporation, with about 15 Western Australian workers onsite throughout the project, including local sub-contractors.

Water Corporation supplies drinking water to about 1,700 residents and businesses in Exmouth, with the town’s population increasing during peak tourist periods.