South Australian water prices are due to increase by 26.3% this financial year, increasing the average household water bill to $200.

 

The increase follows two years of consecutive increases of 18% and 23%.

 

The increase in water price comes as the Adelaide Desalination plan prepares to begin operations by July this year.

 

“We are advised the desalination plant is on track to produce first water by the end of July, and overall completion of the 100 gigalitre plant is expected by the end of 2012,” South Australian Minister for Water Paul Caica said has said

 

"Once the tunnelling system is commissioned, the intake will be able to draw in raw seawater from 1.4 km offshore and into the plant’s pre-treatment area before it runs through the reverse osmosis process,” Mr Caica said.