• Asia Pacific Rentals & Services
• 03/09/2025

SMALLER DESALINATION SYSTEMS MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON WATER SECURITY

Centurion’s desalination project in the Kimberley region shows how smaller, decentralised systems are proving just as critical to our water security as billion-dollar city plants, delivering water security where it’s needed most.

Desalination is firmly back in the spotlight across Australia. With drought cycles, climate uncertainty and growing demand for freshwater, the question is no longer if we need desalination, but how we deliver it.

While large city plants often dominate the headlines, the real story is broader. Smaller, decentralised desalination systems are becoming just as critical to Australia’s water security, delivering resilience where it’s needed most.

At a remote airport in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, Centurion has delivered a Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant that shows what’s possible in harsh and isolated conditions. By pumping seawater 10 kilometres inland and adapting to tidal changes, the system reduces reliance on limited inland water reserves while creating a sustainable, reliable supply.

Key benefits of this desalination project

• 100kL of safe drinking water produced daily
• Seawater pumped 10km inland, adapting to tides for continuous supply
• Fully automated, remotely monitored and designed for tough environments
• Supporting runway upgrades with water for dust suppression

This isn’t just about one airport. It’s about effective ways to secure and reuse water, protecting inland reserves, supporting infrastructure, and ensuring communities and industries have reliable supply even in the most remote environments.

Australia’s desalination future won’t be one-size-fits-all. It will be a mix of large-scale urban projects and localised, flexible systems like this one. At Centurion, we’re excited to be part of the solution.