Adelaide desalination plant to bring relief for drought-stricken farmers
Drought-stricken farmers are set for some relief this week, with an extra 300 megalitres of water going back into the Murray Darling Basin every day thanks to the opening of an Adelaide desalination plant.
Adelaide residents will have desalinated water flowing through their taps by the end of the week as part of a Federal Government drought initiative.
More than one million people are expected to receive at least some of the water from the Lonsdale's Desalination Plant through their pipelines.
The Lonsdale's Desalination Plant will be operational by the end of the week. 9NEWS
The project is aimed at freeing up water from the Murray Darling Basin to help drought-stricken farmers in New South Wales and Victoria.
The opening comes as a crippling drought in New South Wales sees many communities counting down to "Day Zero" – when rivers and dams are expected to run completely dry.
"The taxpayers have paid a lot of money to put this plant into place for times of water crisis, and that time is now," South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said.
The project is the culmination of a deal between the Federal and South Australian governments to convert 40 giga-litres of salt water into drinking water at the plant over the next six months.
The Premier said the plant should cover almost all of Adelaide's drinking water requirements during the winter months, and about half of their needs during summer.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has been spruiking the new drinking water, telling South Australians they will be "delighted" with its quality. 9NEWS
"Our maximum capacity is 300 megalitres a day," he said.
The Lonsdale plant will service communities as far afield as Gawler, 70 kilometres away, and as far south as Aldinga.
The SA Government has promised South Australians won't be paying more for their water, despite the $2 billion cost of the new facility.
"I think the consumers will be delighted with the quality," Premier Steven Marshall said.
However, SA Water is warning that the water does have a different flavour.
"People may notice the chlorine disinfection we use to keep it safe, but you can adjust that by putting it in a jug and putting it in your fridge overnight," SA Water's Jamie Hollamby told 9NEWS.
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