About this project
Focussing initially on Western Australia, the objective of this project was to address the key knowledge challenges facing brackish groundwater desalination projects in Australia. Namely:
- uncertainties in brackish groundwater resources, including the scale of available resources, groundwater chemical composition and possible impacts of development
- inland brine management, and
- energy availability in remote locations.
The need for this study was identified in previous work comissioned by the NWGA:
- “Review of low-cost desalination opportunities for agriculture in Australia” CSIRO; and
- “Horizon scan of opportunities and technologies to improve supply capacity of water infrastructure for agriculture and primary industries” by RMCG consulting.
The project team included researchers from:
- CSIRO Environment – focusing on groundwater systems characterisation, groundwater quality assessment to inform desalination options and brine management, and strategies for delivery of the knowledge gained.
- CSIRO Energy – addressing energy availability in remote locations
- CSIRO Mineral Resources – addressing hydrogeochemical characterisations of brackish groundwater, which will allow investigating potential mineral recovery from brine
- OSMOFLO Water Management Pty Ltd – providing information on brine reductions and brine disposal options
The project was completed in June 2025.
Project Outputs
The following outputs from the project have been published:
Factsheets
- Brackish groundwater resources in Western Australia
- Brackish groundwater desalination and brine management options
- Energy options for brackish groundwater desalination in Western Australia
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Perth Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Carnarvon Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Canning Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater development from fractured rock, palaeovalley, and alluvial aquifers
- Opportunities and challenges for brackish groundwater desalination in remote communities
Technical Reports
- Brackish groundwater characterisation across Western Australia
- Brackish water desalination and brine management: A technical overview
- Energy options for brackish groundwater desalination in Western Australia
Summary Reports
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Perth Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Carnarvon Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination in the Canning Basin
- Opportunities for brackish groundwater desalination from fractured rock, palaeovalley, and alluvial aquifers
- Opportunities and challenges for brackish groundwater desalination in remote communities
Data
- Energy availability from solar radiation and wind power density
- Levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for different reliability classes
- Groundwater bore data
- Salinity status of aquifers in different groundwater GMAs
- Available allocation from aquifers in different groundwater GMAs