WaterSmart Farms is a WA Government initiative to test new water supply options for the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions, including desalination.

The Shire of Katanning was approved for the desalination unit with support from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The project team has worked with Shire officers and the CEO in the last few months for the approval to place a 24KL unit accommodating the existing production bore (near the Katanning Aquatic Centre) and will be finalised early next year.

The WaterSmart Farms project is working in partnership with the Water Corporation, as well as Murdoch University, Curtin University, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and the Grower Group Alliance on a targeted groundwater exploration program to identify previously untapped brackish to saline groundwater supplies.