In June 2019, Utility Magazine reported that SA Water had finished upgrading the water supply at Watinuma in remote north-western South Australia and had started work in Murputja. The main element there was a new treatment and storage plant using reverse osmosis to desalinate bore water, backed by a 24 kW solar and battery system. A 12 km pipeline was to extend supply to Kanpi and Nyapari. Completion was expected around mid-2020.
The report showed small solar-powered reverse osmosis units becoming standard for remote Aboriginal communities across the APY Lands. SA Water already ran four desalination plants in the region.
Source: Utility Magazine