The Sydney Desal Blog

How the Sydney Desalination Plant protects the ocean while securing clean, reliable drinking water

Discover how Sydney Desalination Plant delivers clean, reliable drinking water for Sydney while protecting the ocean through smart design and monitoring

1 June 2026

Earth Day 2026: Powering water security with renewable energy

As we mark Earth Day 2026, it’s a timely reminder that sustainability is not only about what we consume, but also about how critical services are delivered. The Sydney Desalination Plant plays an important role in supporting the city’s water security, and it does so with sustainability built into both planning and day-to-day operations.

From energy efficiency to long-term environmental performance, the Plant continues to evolve in line with broader sustainability goals. While desalination is often associated with high energy use, Sydney Desalination Plant is powered by 100% renewable energy, showing how essential infrastructure can meet community needs while reducing its environmental footprint.

21 April 2026

Celebrating World Water Day 2026 – From ocean to tap – where Sydney Desalination Plant fits into Sydney’s water story

World Water Day is a chance to appreciate where our water comes from, recognise the value of resilient infrastructure, and acknowledge the people who make it possible.

At the Sydney Desalination Plant, we’re proud to be part of Sydney’s wider water supply network, helping turn seawater from the Tasman Sea into high-quality drinking water for a growing city.

19 March 2026

Fact versus Fiction: Unpacking the truth about the Sydney Desalination Plant

Sydney Desalination Plant is designed as a safeguard to ensure Sydney has a resilient water supply. Yet, for all its strategic importance, the Plant is often misunderstood.

We've spoken with Matt Blaikie, General Manager Business Optimisation, from the Sydney Desalination Plant to get the real story and dismantle any misconceptions about the Plant.

24 February 2026

Spotlight on Rumbidzai Shamhu: Engineering as the technical backbone of Sydney Desalination Plant

To mark the International Day of Women & Girls in Science 2026 we sat down with one of SDP's engineers Rumbidzai Shamhu. Reflecting the theme of combining AI, social science, STEM and finance, she argues inclusive, high-performing infrastructure depends on systems thinking, risk awareness, and long-term investment decisions.

11 February 2026

Summer Water Security

As temperatures climb and Sydney’s summers become hotter and drier, securing a reliable supply of high quality drinking water has never been more important.

While many people associate the Sydney Desalination Plant with drought emergencies, the Plant is in fact operating quietly in the background all year round, providing a steady, rainfall independent source of drinking water and standing ready to ramp up production when conditions tighten.

To kick off 2026, we sat down with the Sydney Desalination Plant CEO, Phil Narezzi to discuss how the Plant is supporting Sydney’s water security during heatwaves and extended dry spells, when demand is at its highest.

21 January 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sydney Desalination Plant operating?
While the Plant was originally designed to operate only in times of drought, it has remained operational since 2019 to help address several storage dam water quality issues arising from bushfires, flooding and significant maintenance tasks in Sydney Water’s supply network.

The Sydney Desalination Plant’s WICA Network Operator’s Licence enables the Plant to remain operational, recognising that the Plant has always been, and will continue to be, an essential component of Sydney’s water management and an integral part of our city’s water-resilient future.
How much water does the Plant produce?
The Plant can provide up to 15 per cent of Sydney’s average drinking water needs without any reliance on rainfall.

It treats, filters and re-mineralises seawater to produce up to 91.25 gigalitres per annum of high-quality drinking water.

Under our WICA Network Operator’s Licence, the Plant will operate on a “flexible full-time basis”, producing between about 20 gigalitres to 91.25 gigalitres every year.
What does desalinated water taste like?
Sydney Desalination Plant water is treated to taste the same as Sydney’s other drinking water.

Like dam water, water from the desalination plant is treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which makes it among the best in the world.
Who owns the Plant?
Sydney Desalination Plant is owned by Utilities Trust of Australia, which is managed by Morrison.

Utilities Trust of Australia is an Australian open-ended core infrastructure fund for institutional investors with a long-term investment horizon.

Find out more on our About Us page.

Why is desalination important?
The Sydney Desalination Plant is Sydney’s only major sources of non-rainfall dependent drinking water. It is one effective way of securing Sydney’s water supply against the effects of climate change and natural disasters and the increase in demand due to population growth, warmer weather and urban greening projects.

While the Plant was originally designed to respond to Australia’s severe millennium drought, recent experiences have demonstrated that drought is only one type of event that requires support from the Plant to ensure clean and safe drinking water for Greater Sydney.

The Plant has been a reliable drinking water supply during floods and bushfires, which caused water quality challenges from time to time in Sydney’s storage dams.
Where does the water go?
The Plant can supply water to homes and businesses south of Sydney Harbour and as far west as Bankstown, as part of all their water supply.

Sydney Water uses a variety of water sources to supply customer needs. Where your water comes from depends on demand and where in Sydney you live.

If you live in the blue-shaded area on this map, you may receive water from the dams, the Sydney Desalination Plant or a combination of both. The Plant's water proportion will change throughout the day due to variations in supply and demand.

Everyone will benefit from desalination because it allows more water to be left in the dams, which means a more secure water supply for Sydney.
How much energy does the Plant use?
The Sydney Desalination Plant requires roughly 38 megawatts at full production and is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.

The average energy needed to provide drinking water to one household is about the same as the energy used to run a household fridge.
What’s the impact on the environment?
Sydney Desalination Plant places a high priority on minimising any environmental impacts – both on land and in the water.

To support this, the Plant has put in place a world first stringent six-year marine environment monitoring program. The marine environment was monitored for three years before construction and three years after the Plant became operational. It demonstrated that the Plant has minimal effect on the marine environment.

On land, a third of the Plant site at Kurnell has been maintained as a conservation area. This area is protected, and native species of flora and fauna are regularly monitored. This includes a program to survey the numbers of grey-headed flying foxes and green and golden bell frogs in the area.