SA Water is responding to growing water scarcity on the Eyre Peninsula.

The authority has announced a review of its water security strategy alongside the planned development of a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point. 

This decision aligns with the latest recommendations from the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board and seeks to ensure sustainable water supply for the region's 35,000 residents and various industrial stakeholders.

The upcoming changes, set to commence on 1 July 2026, will see a significant reduction in the volume of water SA Water can extract from the Uley South Basin, currently the primary source of the peninsula's drinking water. 

This measure aims to mitigate the environmental degradation observed in the basin, including the rising threat of saltwater intrusion which, if unchecked, could render the basin unusable.

David Coombe, General Manager of Customer, Community and Engagement at SA Water, says that a desalination plant, which is independent of climatic variables, is needed to secure a long-term water solution. 

“We are working towards the plant supplying water by mid-2026, but as a responsible utility, we need to be responding to the advice of the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board and taking action now to maintain a level of water supply to the region, until the plant is operational,” he said.

In preparation for the potential delays in the desalination plant's construction, SA Water is considering staged water restrictions that would impact primary production, industrial, business, and residential sectors. 

“We don’t take the introduction of water restrictions lightly, but the criticality of this proposed licensed water reduction means this measure will need to be seriously considered,” Coombe said.

Further complicating the situation, environmental studies indicate that other southern basins, including the Lincoln Basin and Uley Wanilla Lens, are also under considerable stress, prompting SA Water to limit extraction from these sources as well.

Amid these challenges, regional stakeholders are actively involved in discussions to revise the Water Allocation Plan for the Southern Basins, with a focus on sustainable management and minimization of environmental impacts. 

The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board has cited climate change as a significant factor in the accelerated depletion and increased salinity of local groundwater sources.

As SA Water navigates these complex issues, the broader Eyre Peninsula community braces for potential economic impacts, particularly affecting the region's $4 billion economy, which heavily relies on consistent and sustainable water supply.