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Water Capacity and limits of McMinns Borefield

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WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly


11/11/2009

73. Water Capacity and limits of McMinns Borefield

Ms Purick to MINISTER for Essential Services

QUESTION


1. What is the depth and pumping capacity of the following Power and Water Corporation managed Government bores in the McMinns borefield:
    o M54
    o M55
    o M62
    o M64

      2. What is the licence limit for each bore:
    o M54
    o M55
    o M62
    o M64

      3. How much water was extracted from the bores for each of the last fiscal year by monthly breakdown.
      4. Are there any plans to deepen the bores at McMinns. If so, what environmental research was undertaken to support such an action.

      5. Does the Power and Water Corporation intend to seek an increase in the licences for the McMinn bores and if so, to what extraction level and for which bores.

      6. What impact any increase of the licence level would have on the Howard River East Aquifer.

      7. What is the intended use and usage quantities of fresh water by Inpex’s proposed LNG plant and operations.

      8. Could you advise what planning has been undertaken by PAWC in regard to the future demands from operators in industrial activities such as LNG plants, rare earths processing plant and related businesses.

      9. Are all the storage tanks in Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area being used currently.

      10. What is the holding capacity for the following tanks being:
    o Humpty Doo
    o Howard Springs
    o Palmerston
    o West Lane
    o Stuart Park
    o Montoro
    o Salonika
    o Parap
    o Winnellie
    o Mararra
    o Nightcliff
    o Rapid Creek
    o Casuarina
    o Karama
    ___________________

ANSWER


Answered on 08/01/2010
      Ms Purick to the Minister for Essential Services.
      Water Capacity and limits of McMinns Borefield
    1. What is the depth and pumping capacity of the following Power and Water Corporation managed Government bores in the McMinns borefield:
        Power and Water Corporation (PWC) operates two borefields: the McMinns Borefield (M) and the Howard East Borefield (HEB). Details of each are provided below and in the following sections.
      o M54 (RN6310) 67.33m (sump) 63 litres/sec
      o M55 (RN6231) 43.7m (sump) 38 litres/sec
      o M62 (RN7048) 56.6m (sump) 63 litres/sec
      o M64 (RN7071) 52.1m (sump) 63 litres/sec
      o HEB1 (RN20496) 47.2m (sump) 45 litres/sec
      o HEB2 (RN20497) 58.6m (sump) 50 litres/sec

        2. What is the licence limit for each bore?
      Bore
      Annual limit
      (Million litres)
      M54
      2150
      M55
      1020
      M62
      1020
      M64
      1550
      HEB1
      1300
      HEB2
      1380
      Total
      8420
        3. How much water was extracted from the bores for each of the last fiscal year by monthly breakdown?
          Month
          M54
          M55
          M62
          M64
          HEB1
          HEB2
          July 08
          175
          85
          93
          0
          56
          86
          August 08
          171
          93
          93
          0
          54
          88
          September 08
          162
          87
          93
          0
          50
          79
          October 08
          162
          84
          84
          0
          48
          73
          November 08
          159
          65
          29
          0
          32
          69
          December 08
          161
          65
          0
          0
          41
          70
          January 09
          169
          85
          0
          0
          55
          79
          February 09
          159
          75
          0
          0
          52
          86
          March 09
          164
          98
          89
          0
          52
          94
          April 09
          167
          79
          89
          0
          53
          96
          May 09
          170
          83
          108
          0
          54
          96
          June 09
          168
          52
          89
          0
          52
          90
          Total
          1987
          951
          767
          0
          599
          1006

            Total pumped volume for 2008/09 was 5,310 ML, which was 63% of the annual licence limit.

            M64 was previously removed from service due to the detection of E.coli and returned to service in August 2009 after ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment was installed at the bore.
          4. Are there any plans to deepen the bores at McMinns? If so, what environmental research was undertaken to support such an action.

            There are no plans to deepen any bores at McMinns.

        5. Does the Power and Water Corporation intend to seek an increase in the licences for the McMinn bores and if so, to what extraction level and for which bores.
            Power and Water Corporation (PWC) currently extract less than 15% of the total annual extraction from the Howard East aquifer through the McMinns and Howard East Borefields. The majority of extraction (85%) is from around 3000 unmetered private horticultural and rural residential bores.

            PWC has no plans to seek additional extraction from the existing McMinns bores.

            PWC has written to the Water Controller seeking approval to connect three additional bores in the Howard East borefield which was identified as Darwin’s future water supply in the 1980’s and were drilled in the 1990’s. These new bores would add an additional 3000 - 4000ML per annum.

            PWC has been advised that further licences for additional extraction are subject to the finalisation and outcomes of a Water Allocation Plan being undertaken by the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, for the whole water district.

            The McMinns and Howard East Borefields provide about 10% of Darwin’s water supply and are an integral part of the diversification, security and emergency supply strategy.


          6. What impact any increase of the licence level would have on the Howard River East Aquifer.
            The impact of any increase of PWC licence, or ongoing horticultural or rural residential development, is assessed by the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport.
        7. What is the intended use and usage quantities of fresh water by Inpex’s proposed LNG plant and operations?

            It is understood that the total water consumption of the Inpex site will be approximately 2 million litres per day. PWC does not have a detailed break-up of proposed water use by individual component.

        8. Could you advise what planning has been undertaken by PAWC in regard to the future demands from operators in industrial activities such as LNG plants, rare earths processing plant and related businesses.
            PWC is advised by the Major Projects group of the Department of the Chief Minister regarding potential industrial activities such as LNG plants, rare earths processing plant and related businesses.

            PWC has developed a number of growth scenarios including various step changes by large industrial developments. To cater for these developments, PWC are currently raising the level of Darwin River Dam at a cost of $13.8M. This is expected to increase the safe yield by approximately 20% or 9000 ML per annum. PWC are currently investigating the return to service of Manton Dam. It is estimated this will cost in excess of $150M and will provide between 7000 – 15 000 ML per annum.

            PWC support the proposed Territory 2030 Strategy which aims for a 20% reduction in residential water consumption by 2015. Darwin’s residential water consumption is between two to three times higher than the National average.


          9. Are all the storage tanks in Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area being used currently.
            Yes.

          10. What is the holding capacity for the following tanks?
        o Humpty Doo 0.50 ML
        o Howard Springs 0.50 ML
        o Palmerston 3.00 ML
        o West Lane 1.36 ML
        o Stuart Park 36.00 ML
        o Montoro 0.68 ML
        o Salonika 0.68 ML
        o Parap 0.65ML
        o Winnellie 4.54 ML
        o Mararra 36.00 ML
        o Nightcliff 0.68 ML
        o Rapid Creek 2.27 ML
        o Casuarina (ground Level) 27.24 ML
        o Casuarina (elevated) 4.54 ML
        o Karama (ground Level) 18.00 ML
        o Karama (elevated) 2.30 ML
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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