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10.5.8. Water and Sewerage Infrastructure
The region’s water and sewerage supply infrastructure is owned by SA Water, a State Government
owned enterprise. A description of SA Water’s infrastructure is contained in
Table 10.14
below and
illustrated on
Figure 11.2
.
Table 10.14: SA Water
Company
SA Water
Address
Various locations.
Jobs
Not available for Western Region
Exports
No
Building Valuation
Not available
Insurance Details
Not available
Contact
No contact available
Overview
SA Water is the principal supplier of reticulated water throughout the Metropolitan area
for domestic, industrial and commercial, and institutional purposes.
It is empowered under the Waterworks and Sewerage Acts to construct and operate
water supply systems and to construct and operate sewerage systems. Under the
Metropolitan Drainage Act, SA Water is also required to provide flood mitigation along
the Torrens River.
Within the Study Area, SA Water’s water supply pipes extend approximately 1695km ,
comprising 341 km of pipe >150mm diameter, and 1,354 km of pipe less than 150mm
diameter. Sewerage is pumped to Bolivar for treatment, through a network of
approximately 1,976 km of pipes.
SA Water is one of the largest energy users in South Australia, which is primarily due
to its pumping activities.
Climate Change
Risks
Declining availability of water in River Murray and Mount Lofty Ranges
catchments.
Higher operating costs from exposure to the energy market.
Declining water quality, leading to higher treatment costs.
Accelerated degradation and increased failure of water distribution infrastructure
through increases in ground movement and changes in groundwater.
Environmental spills due to inadequate capacity of pipes to deal with extreme
events.
Reduced dry weather sewerage flows.
Reduced reliability of power supply, affecting water supplies and sewage pumping
and treatment if existing electricity suppliers cannot maintain pace with long term
changes in climate. This is a particular issue during heatwaves.
Sea level rise and associated impacts on nearby assets, e.g. Waste Water
Treatment Plant at West Beach. Associated potential for environmental spills.
Adaptation Planning
SA Water has developed a Climate Change Strategy that focuses on the key
areas of:
o
Adapting to climate change;
o
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation);
o
Supporting necessary research.
SA Water is developing research activity to be able to face new challenges and
opportunities including the use of recycled water sources, desalination,
