Quenching Australia's thirst for freshwater

As Australia’s urban supplies dwindle, Murdoch scientists are working on clean, green solutions to meet the forecast needs of fresh drinking water for our cities.

Murdoch University was awarded $25 million by the federal and state governments to boost its research and host Australia's new National Centre of Excellence in Desalination.

The Centre builds on Murdoch’s historical research strengths in renewable energy, water and environmental sciences, and will offer energy-saving solutions to safeguard future water supplies for both consumers and industry.

Murdoch scientists will develop new technologies with widespread application for the benefit of all Australians.

Interim Director Professor David Doepel said Murdoch’s reverse osmosis pilot plant at the Centre currently produced about 100 litres an hour of desalinated seawater.

By treating the seawater prior to the reverse osmosis process, Murdoch scientists hope to reduce energy use and costs by up to 10 per cent.

“Water security for Australians is one of the most important areas of policy and research,” Professor Doepel said.

“With its diverse rainfall patterns and climates, Australia will need a range of technology and behavioral and cultural solutions to ensure water for all.”

Professor Doepel said the extremes of our climate and relatively high energy costs with a high reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources presented some significant challenges for securing water for industry, agriculture and residential use.

“It’s clear that for much of Australia’s growing population, relying on rainfall alone will not deliver long-term water security.

“If historic trends are a guide, then the water situation for southern Australia in 10 years’ time will be even more challenging.

“The commitment to large-scale desalination projects for major metropolitan regions, coupled with significant programs aimed at per capita reduction, can provide water security.”

Professor Doepel said Murdoch and the new Centre aimed to deliver desalinated water that had a lower energy footprint, a lower carbon footprint and a reduced environmental impact.

“Renewable energy can be used to desalinate water and we have already done research on this area and will be exploring further options as the Centre develops.”

He added that Murdoch researchers had been exploring the ability of harnessing waste heat to increase the efficiency of existing desalination technologies and were also investigating novel approaches to lower-temperature evaporative desalination technologies.