Water production at the Adelaide Desalination Plant is cranking up to keep taps running smoothly across the city. With last year marking Adelaide’s driest since 2006, rainfall fell nearly 200mm short of the average, and reservoir inflows hit their lowest in four decades. Reservoir levels have dropped to 44 per cent—the lowest in over 20 years—prompting an increase in desalination output until mid-2025.
The plant will ramp up to produce as much as 300 million litres of water per day over the next month. By comparison, the entire output for January 2024 was just 520 million litres. The boost ensures a steady supply for SA Water customers across metropolitan Adelaide, eliminating the need for water restrictions.
Adelaide’s water supply relies on ten reservoirs, the River Murray, and the desalination plant, giving the system the flexibility to adapt to dry conditions. Drinking water from the desalination plant is piped 11 kilometres to storage tanks at Happy Valley, where it blends with treated water from the reservoir. The pipeline network enables water to reach homes and businesses from Aldinga in the south to Elizabeth in the north.
Alongside desalination, SA Water is maximising its use of River Murray water, channelling it through major pipelines such as the Mannum to Adelaide Pipeline to bolster reservoir levels. While local conditions remain dry, the Murray-Darling Basin sits at 66 per cent capacity, adding a layer of security to the state’s supply.
Regional areas are managing well, drawing on a mix of River Murray water, groundwater, and desalination. On the Eyre Peninsula, SA Water has rolled out a Water Security Response Plan to safeguard supply and encourage conservation efforts.
Since its launch in 2011, the Adelaide Desalination Plant has delivered more than 212 billion litres of drinking water to homes and businesses. Its flexible operating model keeps it running at a minimum production level for most of the year, allowing it to scale up quickly when needed. At full capacity, the plant can churn out 100 billion litres annually.
Minister for Water, Nick Champion, acknowledged the value of the plant, crediting the foresight of the former Rann Government for securing Adelaide’s water future. The long-term investment in desalination infrastructure has shielded the city from the risk of restrictions, proving its worth as a safeguard in dry times. With the plant stepping up production, Adelaide’s water supply remains steady, ensuring residents and businesses can weather the dry spell without interruption.
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