THE VICTORIAN Government may have to build a second desalination plant near Melbourne, in order to save the Werribee Irrigation District, one of Australia’s most important food bowls.
The area, estimated to supply around half the nation’s vegetables, has been using recycled water from the nearby sewage treatment plant for almost four years.
In that time, the water salinity levels have consistently been double the maximum level promised by the Government in 2004.
The local farmers fear that the district could be destroyed for farming within a decade, as a result of this failure.
The Government is currently negotiating with water authorities, the local Wyndham City council and the farmers to come up with a solution and save hundreds of local businesses.
The locals have been pushing for a desalination plant to be attached the treatment plant, in order to purify the water. Melbourne Water feels that this would be too costly.
However, the council supports the idea, saying it would become more feasible if multiple users of water were found in Melbourne’s west.
The council says the water would be used for human consumption, but would be safe for all other uses, such as watering the city’s parched sportsgrounds.
Neither Southern Rural Water nor Melbourne Water has ruled out desalination as a possible solution.
The four-year deal to use recycled water deal is due expire on 30 June 2009, although it is likely that it will be extended for a further two years, as the investigations into the problem have only recently begun.
The state Water Minister Tim Holding says it will be a while before a solution is found.
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