Surface Water Sources (Future)
Most cities around the world source their drinking water from rivers and dams.
Similarly, up until about 30 years ago, almost all scheme water used by customers in Perth and the Goldfields and Agricultural regions came from surface water resources in the Darling Scarp. These dams provided a reliable source of water as a result of comparatively wet years.
The last major storage dam built for Perth was the Harvey Dam, located in the South West of the State, to further augment the IWSS water grid during this period of reducing water source yields.
Dams interrupt natural river systems and impact downstream flows and ecosystems. The Water Corporation manages surface water catchments to protect drinking water quality and minimise adverse environmental impacts, together with the Department of Water and Department of Environment and Conservation.
There are a number of surface water options that have been considered to meet Perth’s future water demand. They are entirely dependent on rainfall. This creates significant uncertainty for these resources in the future; particularly those located in the Southern half of the State where rainfall is projected to decline.
