Case Study

Southern Seawater Desalination Plant

reverse osmosis plant for desalinating sea water

Advisian (previously WorleyParsons) was a member of the Southern Seawater Alliance which designed, constructed and operates the 100GL/year seawater reverse osmosis plant at Binningup, Western Australia to supply Perth’s Integrated Water Supply Scheme with 320 ML/d.

The Situation

Advisian (previously WorleyParsons) played a significant role in the engineering of the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant (PSDP) – with many now involved in the detailed design of a second desalination plant for Water Corporation. 

Approach

The overall process included seawater intake, seawater pumping station, pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, potabilisation, wastewater treatment, drinking water storage and drinking water pumping.  We provided all engineering disciplines for these plant areas as well as support roles to assist the progress of environmental, cost control, procurement, construction and commissioning activities. 

Specifications were developed by our engineers for procurement to obtain quotations from equipment vendors. We also assisted in the subsequent tender evaluation process to select vendors that complied with the project’s requirements which focused on durability and whole-of-life cost as well as technical compliance. 

The scope of work also involved extensive background studies and reports to enable a comprehensive engineering design basis to be prepared that would serve as a blueprint for the design. A rigorous design process was adopted for the project, involving HAZOP, innovation, operability and constructability workshops to not only ensure that a safe plant was built, but also a plant that would operate efficiently over its operating life. Our engineers were a key members of these workshops.

Results 

The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant was delivered on time and on budget and is considered one of the most efficient seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants in the world.

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