Watersmart Farms
WaterSmart Farms is a $1.5 million, three-year project to research sustainable groundwater options to supply suitable water for primary production and other agribusiness activities.
The project builds on research conducted by the Wheatbelt Development Commission, Murdoch University and the Water Corporation looking at innovative solutions to reduce reliance on scheme water and will be delivered together with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Great Southern Development Commission.
WaterSmart Farms aims to boost drought resilience and look at the role of desalination in future water resource delivery. It will assess the technology, economics and systems, suitable groundwater resources and options for the disposal of brine.
The project has three components:
- Understanding adoption of existing desalination plants that process brackish groundwater into a suitable resource for livestock, crop agronomy and other agribusiness activities
- Optimise desalination technology and its application in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions, including assessing the technology, economics and options for the disposal of reverse osmosis reject water
- Undertake a targeted groundwater exploration program and where suitable, locate desalination trials
Initiated in response to the number of water deficiency declarations over the last three years and a record number of 12 declarations in 2020 alone, the project will contribute to ensuring water availability does not become a constraint to future population and economic growth in the Wheatbelt.
To learn more, visit the DPIRD website.
PUBLIC Silo Trail, Newdegate (2018) by Brenton See. Photography by Bewley Shaylor, courtesy of FORM
