Water News Hub
  • Home
  • Water News
  • clean water
  • quality
  • cycle
  • supply
  • drought
  • crisis
  • filter
  • technology
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Water News
  • clean water
  • quality
  • cycle
  • supply
  • drought
  • crisis
  • filter
  • technology
No Result
View All Result
HealthNews
No Result
View All Result
Home drought

Auckland drought: Why floating desalination plants got the thumbs down

July 31, 2020
in drought
Auckland drought: Why floating desalination plants got the thumbs down
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


One or even two huge floating desalination plants, to turn seawater into fresh water, were briefly considered as solutions to Auckland’s drought-driven water shortage.

Each of the barges could have supplied 6 per cent of Auckland’s water needs, from a location on Manukau Harbour, but would have come with a big financial and environmental cost.

The desalination barge idea was canvassed in a confidential report to the June meeting of the board of Auckland Council subsidiary Watercare, obtained by Stuff.

Watercare is pressing on with $224 million of more traditional upgrades over the next year to boost supplies, with dams currently just 60 per cent full, compared with normal levels of 89 per cent.

READ MORE:
* Auckland drought: No relief in August forecast with only showers ahead
* Auckland drought: North Island downpours provide little relief
* Auckland drought: Goff says Watercare could have done better

Each barge could have delivered 25 million litres of water a day, feeding the Lower Nihotupu Dam in the Waitākere Ranges. They would have needed six metres of water for berthing, and a connection to shore-based services.

However, one big minus was the generation plant for the project, which would have consumed 50,000 litres of diesel fuel daily.

“The diesel load from one desalination barge would add 140 per cent to Watercare’s total (annual) operating carbon emission with an operating cost of $18m,” said the board report.

“Due to consenting, logistics and the overall carbon footprint, this option is not being taken further,” it concluded.

A desalination barge developed by Saudi Arabia-based ACWA.

None

A desalination barge developed by Saudi Arabia-based ACWA.

Large land-based desalination plants have been built in Australia, but they are costly to build and used a lot of energy.

The technology is being considered as a long-term solution to Auckland, but both Watercare and Mayor Phil Goff have noted that cost and environmental factors might make it unsuitable.

In addition to the $224m of additional work, Watercare is looking at a further layer of local sources that could contribute during winter months, amounting to 5 per cent or so of winter needs.

These include expanding the capacity of the Waitākere treatment plant, upping the take from the Onehunga aquifer, taking water from the Lower Mangatawhiri Dam, and tapping into the Wairoa River.

Auckland's Wairoa Dam on July 23 2020 at 54 per cent full, during the drought.

Watercare/Supplied

Auckland’s Wairoa Dam on July 23 2020 at 54 per cent full, during the drought.

The Waikato River is currently supplying 40 per cent of Auckland’s needs through the treatment plant at Tuakau, which is being upgraded to deliver 175 million litres a day from late August.

Smaller upgrades of local sources over the next year include recommissioning the Hays Creek Dam at Papakura and a bore in Pukekohe by December.

The possibility of heavier than forecast rain through spring, averting tighter water supplies in summer, remains uncertain.

Auckland's Mangatangi Dam at a lower than normal 50 per cent full on July 2 2020, during the city's worst drought

Watercare/Supplied

Auckland’s Mangatangi Dam at a lower than normal 50 per cent full on July 2…



Read more:: Auckland drought: Why floating desalination plants got the thumbs down

Tags: AucklandDesalinationdroughtfloatingplantsthumbs
Previous Post

Protests follow water shut-offs – News – The Register-Mail

Next Post

Missing Shuswap River floaters safe, make it onto Highway 6 – Vernon News

Related Posts

OPINION: Providing For Grassland Health | Community

OPINION: Providing For Grassland Health | Community

by Water News Hub
January 18, 2021
0

The weather has been a wonderful reprieve this winter, allowing for much more outdoor work and activity.However, there is...

Researching Drought Tolerance – AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

Researching Drought Tolerance – AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

by Water News Hub
January 18, 2021
0

Researching Drought Tolerance Tim Hammerich News Reporter With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich. Jeff Dahlberg recently retired as...

How the Suburbs Could Help Save Biodiversity

How the Suburbs Could Help Save Biodiversity

by Water News Hub
January 17, 2021
0

Plants, and the insects which rely on them, are the living foundations of our planet. But these foundations are...

Sonoma County flirts with drought as reservoirs recede in water-poor winter

Sonoma County flirts with drought as reservoirs recede in water-poor winter

by Water News Hub
January 17, 2021
0

Closer to home, Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls said he’s worried by a forecast for dry offshore winds,...

Icon Water warn drier and hotter summers could put pressure on supplies | The Ca…

Icon Water warn drier and hotter summers could put pressure on supplies | The Ca…

by Water News Hub
January 16, 2021
0

news, latest-news, icon water, canberra water restrictions, water usage, how much does water cost in canberra, la nina, dam...

Desal plant in Corpus Christi

Desal plant in Corpus Christi

by Water News Hub
January 16, 2021
0

Following a dangerous drought in 2011, an idea was born to bring a more resilient, reliable, and cost-effective water...

Load More
Next Post
Missing Shuswap River floaters safe, make it onto Highway 6 – Vernon News

Missing Shuswap River floaters safe, make it onto Highway 6 - Vernon News

Discussion about this post

Today News Hub

Kumaradhara river’s low water levels worry Subrahmanya’s residents

Kumaradhara river’s low water levels worry Subrahmanya’s residents

2 months ago
What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know

4 months ago
‘Developing water, electricity sectors prerequisite for economic growth’

‘Developing water, electricity sectors prerequisite for economic growth’

7 months ago
Trump’s EPA takes commonsense approach

Trump’s EPA takes commonsense approach

3 months ago
Have consumers in Asia Pacific changed their digital consumption habits during c…

Have consumers in Asia Pacific changed their digital consumption habits during c…

7 months ago
Local man continues effort to lend aid in remote area of El Salvador | News

Local man continues effort to lend aid in remote area of El Salvador | News

3 weeks ago
Get ready for grid-integrated buildings

Get ready for grid-integrated buildings

2 weeks ago
Will be able to provide clean drinking water round the clock in Delhi by 2025 Sa…

Will be able to provide clean drinking water round the clock in Delhi by 2025 Sa…

2 months ago
Guest Editorial: CBF suing EPA benefits Pa. – Carlisle Sentinel

Guest Editorial: CBF suing EPA benefits Pa. – Carlisle Sentinel

3 months ago
Candidate Questionnaire: Jean-Luc Duvall, Wake County Soil and Water Conservatio…

Candidate Questionnaire: Jean-Luc Duvall, Wake County Soil and Water Conservatio…

3 months ago

Don't Miss

Marietta City Council raises water rates | Region

Marietta City Council raises water rates | Region

January 18, 2021
Norfolk’s long-time utilities director was a trailblazer. Now, a water treatment…

Norfolk’s long-time utilities director was a trailblazer. Now, a water treatment…

January 18, 2021
Marine monitoring network for water quality on Qatari coasts

Marine monitoring network for water quality on Qatari coasts

January 18, 2021
EPA Hit With Lawsuits Over Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

Plainview Water Commissioners To Continue Work In Water Industry

January 18, 2021
Main break prompts Bloomington water boil advisory

Main break prompts Bloomington water boil advisory

January 18, 2021
thyssenkrupp to install 88-MW water electrolysis plant for Hydro-Québec in Cana…

thyssenkrupp to install 88-MW water electrolysis plant for Hydro-Québec in Cana…

January 18, 2021
Midas Gold to start Stibnite cleanup, plans Nasdaq listing

Midas Gold to start Stibnite cleanup, plans Nasdaq listing

January 18, 2021
Water News Hub

About Us

Follow us

Recent News

Water crisis topic of special meeting

Water crisis topic of special meeting

January 18, 2021
Miss Alabama USA on her hometown: ‘Cullman has come a long way’

Miss Alabama USA on her hometown: ‘Cullman has come a long way’

January 18, 2021
Shenandoah distillery, owner, facing criminal environmental charges

Shenandoah distillery, owner, facing criminal environmental charges

January 18, 2021
OPINION: Providing For Grassland Health | Community

OPINION: Providing For Grassland Health | Community

January 18, 2021

Categories

  • clean water
  • crisis
  • cycle
  • drought
  • filter
  • quality
  • supply
  • technology
  • Water News
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • DMCA

© 2020 Water News Hub

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Water News
  • clean water
  • quality
  • cycle
  • supply
  • drought
  • crisis
  • filter
  • technology

© 2020 Water News Hub

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.