Theiss Degremont has announced it has produced the first reverse osmosis water from the Victorian Desalination Plant near Wonthaggi.

 

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the first desalinated water produced from the plant, with the operation set to produce its first potable water expectd to be produced later this month when the plant remineralises the RO water.

 

The plant uses a 1.2km underground intake tunnel to pump seawater into its filter prior to the reverse osmosis process where ultrafine RO membranes separate salt from seawater.

 

The quantity of production will progressively increase during commissioning over the next five to six months and be fully operational before the end of the year. Reliability testing is expected to be finalised in February 2013.

 

During commissioning, once testing proves the water quality meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and contract requirements, water will gradually enter the water supply network via Cardinia Reservoir.