South East Queensland Water Grid
Encyclopedia
The SEQ Water Grid is a region-wide, long term, water supply scheme that provides a sustainable water infrastructure
network for the South East Queensland
region of Australia
. The project was the largest urban response to the Drought in Australia
, which was severely affecting water supplies in Brisbane
and surrounds, particularly between 2004 and 2007. The basic component of the project is a 535 km network of potable bulk water pipelines that will connect areas that have an oversupply of water to those areas lacking water. The project went online in October 2008 and by November 2008 parts of the region were receiving a diversified supply of water for the first time.
The SEQ Water Grid is managed by a partnership between Seqwater, LinkWater
and the SEQ Water Grid Manager
. The total cost of the project is $6.9 billion.
The plan for the Water Grid was originally laid out in the Queensland Water Commission
's South East Queensland Water Strategy, a 50-year strategy to maintain adequate water supply. The main objectives are to respond to the drought and provide long term water security
for the region, particularly to avoid the need to place severe water restrictions on residents. Other aims of the Water Grid are to move risk away from individual water storage facilities to the regional level and to efficiently coordinate the utility of water sources in South East Queensland.
, Somerset Dam, North Pine Dam
and Baroon Pocket Dam
, along with eight other dams that make up the 12 connected dams. Part of the project involved the construction of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant to convert sea water to drinking water
and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
to purify treated wasterwater for supply to power stations and industrial and agricultural customers. Purified recycled water will also be added to the water supply once combined dam levels fall below 40 per cent.
Two major pipelines, called the Northern and Southern Pipeline Interconnectors, will link water storage facilities near Gympie
in the north of the region and the Gold Coast
area, south of Brisbane. Wyaralong Dam
and the completed Cedar Grove Weir
are part of the plans. These water reservoirs provide significant new supply and are needed to meet the region's growing demand up until 2050. In 2008 Lake Manchester and Enoggera Dam
were reactivated to supplement supply. The project also encompasses a raising of the Hinze Dam
dam wall and the connection of the Leslie Harrison Dam
and Ewen Maddock Dam
to the regional network.
Current SEQ Water Grid bulk water assets include:
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
network for the South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
region of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The project was the largest urban response to the Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
, which was severely affecting water supplies in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and surrounds, particularly between 2004 and 2007. The basic component of the project is a 535 km network of potable bulk water pipelines that will connect areas that have an oversupply of water to those areas lacking water. The project went online in October 2008 and by November 2008 parts of the region were receiving a diversified supply of water for the first time.
The SEQ Water Grid is managed by a partnership between Seqwater, LinkWater
LinkWater
The Queensland Bulk Water Transport Authority, trading as LinkWater, is the Queensland Government statutory authority responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of potable bulk water pipelines and related infrastructure throughout South East Queensland .In 2008-2009, LinkWater...
and the SEQ Water Grid Manager
SEQ Water Grid Manager
The SEQ Water Grid Manager is a Government-owned statutory body responsible for managing the strategic operation of the SEQ Water Grid. The SEQ Water Grid Manager's role is to manage the SEQ Water Grid to maintain water security and quality for the region cost effectively, while balancing the needs...
. The total cost of the project is $6.9 billion.
The plan for the Water Grid was originally laid out in the Queensland Water Commission
Queensland Water Commission
The Queensland Water Commission is a Queensland Government agency established to develop long term water supply strategies. The Commission is chaired by Mary Boydell and the current chief executive officer is John Bradley....
's South East Queensland Water Strategy, a 50-year strategy to maintain adequate water supply. The main objectives are to respond to the drought and provide long term water security
Water security
Water security is the capacity of a population to ensure that they continue to have access to potable water. It is an increasing concern arising from population growth, drought, climate change, oscillation between El Nino and La Nina effects, urbanisation, salinity, upstream pollution,...
for the region, particularly to avoid the need to place severe water restrictions on residents. Other aims of the Water Grid are to move risk away from individual water storage facilities to the regional level and to efficiently coordinate the utility of water sources in South East Queensland.
Components
Existing facilities that have become part of the Water Grid include Wivenhoe DamWivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam is a dam across the Brisbane River a little way upstream from Locker Creek. The dam creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe. The dam wall is located about by road from the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
, Somerset Dam, North Pine Dam
North Pine Dam
North Pine Dam is built across the North Pine River, north-west of Brisbane, within Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia.The damming of North Pine River created an artificial lake called Lake Samsonvale to secure a supply of drinking water for the Moreton Bay region and Brisbane's northern...
and Baroon Pocket Dam
Baroon Pocket Dam
Lake Baroon is formed by Baroon Pocket Dam, a dam constructed in 1988 on Obi Obi Creek, in South East Queensland. The two smaller creeks, Bridge Creek and Forbes Creek also provide inflows to the dam. The reservoir has a surface area of 400 ha, an average depth of 15 metres and holds some 60 000 ML...
, along with eight other dams that make up the 12 connected dams. Part of the project involved the construction of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant to convert sea water to drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme is Australia's largest recycled water project, located in South East Queensland. It is a key part of the SEQ Water Grid being constructed by the Queensland Government in response to population growth, climate change and severe drought.The A$2.5 billion...
to purify treated wasterwater for supply to power stations and industrial and agricultural customers. Purified recycled water will also be added to the water supply once combined dam levels fall below 40 per cent.
Two major pipelines, called the Northern and Southern Pipeline Interconnectors, will link water storage facilities near Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
in the north of the region and the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
area, south of Brisbane. Wyaralong Dam
Wyaralong Dam
The Wyaralong Dam is a water project that was initiated by the Queensland Government in 2006 as a result of a prolonged drought which saw the catchment areas of South East Queensland's dams receive record low rain....
and the completed Cedar Grove Weir
Cedar Grove Weir
The $18.5 million Cedar Grove Weir is part of the Logan River system that also will include the proposed $500 million Wyaralong Dam on the Teviot Brook and the $39.5 million Bromelton Offstream Storage facility.-Overview:...
are part of the plans. These water reservoirs provide significant new supply and are needed to meet the region's growing demand up until 2050. In 2008 Lake Manchester and Enoggera Dam
Enoggera Dam
The Enoggera Dam, which is located within the inner, western suburb of Enoggera Reservoir, in Brisbane, Queensland, and was constructed in 1866. It was built on Enoggera Creek and was the first major dam built in Queensland...
were reactivated to supplement supply. The project also encompasses a raising of the Hinze Dam
Hinze Dam
The Hinze Dam, also known as Advancetown Lake, supplies most of the water provided to Gold Coast City in Queensland, Australia. Some water is drawn from Little Nerang Dam and until recently northern suburbs received water from Wivenhoe Dam. It was completed in 1976 and expanded in 1989. Advancetown...
dam wall and the connection of the Leslie Harrison Dam
Leslie Harrison Dam
The Leslie Harrison Dam is a water storage reservoir for the Redland City Council. The dam forms Tingalpa Reservoir which is situated between the suburbs of Capalaba, Chandler and Burbank in Brisbane, Australia....
and Ewen Maddock Dam
Ewen Maddock Dam
Ewen Maddock Dam is one of many smaller dams on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.It is situated approximately south east of Mooloolah and from Landsborough. The dam is managed by the Qld Water....
to the regional network.
Current SEQ Water Grid bulk water assets include:
- 12 connected dams
- 10 connected drinking water treatment plants
- 3 advanced water treatment plants producing purified recycled water
- 1 desalination plant
- 28 water reservoirs
- 22 bulk water pump stations
- 535 km of potable bulk water mains
See also
- Water supply and sanitation in AustraliaWater supply and sanitation in AustraliaWater supply and sanitation in Australia is universal and of good quality. As the country's supply of freshwater is increasingly vulnerable to droughts, possibly as a result of climate change, there is an emphasis on water conservation and various regions have imposed restrictions on the use of...
- Water security in AustraliaWater security in AustraliaWater security in Australia has become a major concern over the course of the late 20th and early 21st century as a result of population growth, severe drought, fears of the effects of global warming on Australia, environmental degradation from reduced environmental flows, competition between...