Belmont desalination plant
We’re building a permanent desalination plant at Belmont, which is a key action in the 2022 Lower Hunter Water Security Plan.
Why desalination?
Desalination is an important rainfall-independent water supply option and will help support our customers and communities with a safe and reliable water source regardless of changes in weather or climate.
A permanent desalination plant at Belmont:
- will add up to 30 million litres per day of rainfall-independent water supply to the Lower Hunter’s water system, which is around 15% of the region’s average daily water needs
- increases the diversity of the region’s water supply system, which will improve the resilience of the overall system and help Hunter Water to continue to support customers and communities regardless of climate or system shocks
- helps to reduce the rate that storages deplete in a long and severe drought by around six months, delaying the need to implement severe drought response measures
- provides a flexible water supply source that is responsive to water supply needs.
Greenhouse gas emissions from desalination will be incorporated into Hunter Water’s Carbon Strategy.
Progress report
Desalination was originally identified in the 2014 Lower Hunter Water Plan as a drought response measure. In 2021, we received approval from the NSW Government to build a drought response desalination plant at Belmont.
As one of the few water source options not dependent on rainfall, desalination was identified in the 2022 Lower Hunter Water Security Plan as a key action to help us to continue to support our customers and communities with a safe and reliable water source regardless of changes in weather or climate.
In January 2024 we submitted a Modification Report to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) seeking approval to build and operate a permanent desalination plant at Belmont. The Modification Report was on public exhibition during January and February 2024. Feedback received during the exhibition was considered and addressed in a Submissions Report. A full copy of the EIS Modification Report and the Submissions Report can be downloaded from the NSW Government’s Major Projects website.
With planning approval in place, construction of the plant has started. On completion, the plant will form part of the Lower Hunter’s water supply system for the future.
To support the desalination project, two new water mains also need to be constructed to distribute the treated water from the plant to our customers and network. More information about these water mains can be found on the Belmont Water Mains project page.
Project documents
To view the documentation relating to Belmont Desalination Plant including approval and management documents, please visit the project documents page.
Community Consultative Committee
In line with our planning approvals, we have established a Community Consultative Committee to engage with community and key stakeholders during construction and early operation of the plant.
The Community Consultative Committee is not a decision-making or regulatory body; it performs an advisory and consultative role. The purpose of the committee is to:
- establish good working relationships and encourage Hunter Water and our contractors, committee members and other relevant stakeholders to share information
- allow Hunter Water and our contractors to seek feedback from community representatives, stakeholder groups and Council or respond to project-related matters
- give community representatives, stakeholder groups and Council a forum to ask for information or give feedback on a project.
Frequently asked questions
-
Why was Belmont selected as the preferred site?
Belmont was selected as the best site for the desalination plant for a number of reasons including:
- ability to connect to our water system
- proximity to the ocean
- low levels of community disruption and impacts due to the relatively remote location
- Hunter Water owns the land
- construction costs were lower than for other sites.
The site also allows the discharge of brine (the remaining salt water from the desalination process) to the ocean via the existing outfall at the nearby Belmont Wastewater Treatment Works.
-
When will the desalination plant be built?
Work to build the plant is expected to start from late 2024 and will take up to four years to complete, assuming the weather is fine and there are no major issues.
Work on infrastructure to support the plant is expected to start soon, including building two new water mains and upgrading existing reservoirs to integrate desalinated water into our network.
We will be in touch with nearby residents and businesses closer to when construction activities are taking place.
-
How much will it cost to build the plant?
We estimate that the cost to design and build the permanent plant is $530 million. This investment includes measures to ensure the desalination plant will be an enduring asset for future generations and remain resilient to the impacts of climate change. The estimate also reflects recent construction cost inflation being experienced across many industries and major projects.
-
How does desalination work?
Desalination is the process of removing dissolved salts and other particles from seawater.
1. Seawater Intake - Seawater from the ocean enters an intake pipeline through a low-velocity intake structure located above the seafloor about 1 km offshore. The seawater flows along the intake pipeline to the seawater intake well located at the plant site.
2. Pre-treatment - Water is pumped from the seawater intake well to the pre-treatment plant, where coarse filters are used to remove larger particles. The seawater is then filtered through ultra-fine membranes to remove smaller particles.
3. Reverse osmosis – The cleaner seawater is then forced at high pressure through thousands of reverse osmosis membranes, which act as very fine filters, to remove dissolved salts and other particles. Fresh water is extracted and seawater concentrate is left behind. Approximately 42 per cent of the seawater becomes drinking water.
4. Final treatment – The fresh water is treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and fluoride is added to protect teeth. The drinking water then travels through pipelines to join the Hunter Water supply network.
5. Seawater concentrate – The remaining seawater concentrate is about twice as salty and about one degree warmer than the ocean. It would be pumped to the existing Belmont Wastewater Treatment Works ocean outfall, where it would be returned, along with wastewater effluent, through a large pipe that lies beneath the seabed. The effluent and seawater concentrate is dispersed using specially designed diffusers which return the seawater concentrate to normal salinity and temperature.
-
What happens to salt from the seawater?
During the desalination process, fresh water is extracted from seawater then brine (concentrated seawater) is returned to the ocean via a large pipe. The brine dilutes as it mixes with the seawater when it is released into the ocean.
Desalination plants need to meet stringent environmental protection criteria. They are designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
-
How does desalinated water taste?
Like water sourced from a dam and treated at a water treatment plant, water from a desalination plant would be treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which include criteria for the aesthetic quality of drinking water in addition to criteria for the protection of health.
-
How will the plant be powered?
Hunter Water proposes to install a combination of rooftop and ground mounted solar at the Belmont Desalination Plant site to meet a portion of the plant’s energy requirements. The plant’s remaining energy requirements will come from the electricity grid. In procuring energy from the grid, we will consider offsite renewable energy options to minimise the plant’s environmental impact. This is consistent with the approach we currently apply for our other operational electricity requirements.
Resources
Stay up to date with the latest on the Belmont desalination plant