Corporation weighs up options for the disposal of waste water

After scrapping plans to dump waste water from the Denmark Desalination Plant onto Perkins Beach, the Water Corporation is applying for two dumping sites as options.

The corporation has lodged two applications with the Department of Environment Regulation which can be withdrawn at any time.

The first option is to store the desalination brine at the Albany Wastewater Treatment Plant in three existing storage ponds.

The other option is to add brackish water to the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant near Binningup, where it will make up a small part of the existing seawater at the plant and will disperse into the ocean.

The corporation is consulting with the Binningup community through its established Community Reference Group.

Water Corporation Great Southern regional manager Andrew Kneebone said the company was carrying out further technical analysis of the options for the immediate term because each required different levels of community engagement, investment and technical work.

"This analysis, along with the determination of the Department of Environment Regulation, will assist in the decision-making process," he said.

"Denmark continues to receive below-average rainfall and we are determined to find a solution to the management of the brackish water as soon as possible should desalination be required.

"We will continue to liaise with the community and stakeholders to find a solution that balances the environmental and social considerations while also keeping in mind the economic cost to our customers."

Pending approval, Mr Kneebone said the corporation would have to take the economic cost of transporting the brackish water from Denmark into consideration.

"We have worked with local stakeholders and the community, including the City of Albany, Shire of Denmark and Shire of Harvey," he said.

"We will continue to keep the community informed of our progress and encourage any community members who would like more information to visit our website or contact our regional stakeholder manager."