WA’s largest steel water pipeline is now being installed as part of the $2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP) project. The 1.6-metre diameter pipes, manufactured in Kwinana from Pilbara iron ore and Cockburn cement, form the bulk of a 33.5 kilometre underground trunk main connecting the plant to the Wanneroo Reservoir.
Each 12-metre section weighs nearly nine tonnes and is designed to last about 120 years. More than 700 sections are already on site, with a further 2,300 to follow.
Previously sourced from Victoria, the pipes are now produced locally under a $58 million contract with Steel Mains, supporting WA jobs and manufacturing. Construction is being delivered by the Alkimos Pipeline Alliance, including Water Corporation, Georgiou Group and DM Civil.
Once operational in 2027, it is expected that the ASDP will supply 50 billion litres of water annually and enable a 30 billion-litre reduction in groundwater use. The project is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs and inject $1.1 billion into the WA economy.
