Federal Minister for Water Senator Penny Wong has announced $33 million for projects that will help communities reduce their reliance on rainfall, diversify current water supplies, and use water more wisely.

The projects will be implemented by the Water Corporation, Shire of Merredin and Busselton Water.

The projects include:

· Key infrastructure to help expand Southern Seawater Desalination Plant's future capacity to produce drinking water from 50 billion litres a year to 100 billion litres. A larger pumping station and pipeline to take additional seawater to the plant will be constructed with this funding;

· Comprehensive water conservation and leak reduction programs for five regions throughout WA to improve water security;

· Increasing the capacity of stormwater storage and reuse in the town of Merredin, and;

· Installation of smart metering technology throughout Busselton to reduce pipeline leakages and help the local community better manage their water use.

Funding was provided under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, which are components of the Federal Government's long-term Water for the Future initiative. For more information, click here.