Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage project

The Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage (AROWS) project is a long term solution to supply more water to the Darwin region.

Located north of Lake Bennett, the project will take advantage of a naturally occurring basin made up of a ridge formation that can hold water next to Adelaide River. Two main containment barriers will be constructed at low points of the basin so that water can be stored.

The Adelaide River will supply AROWS with water via a controlled pump system during Darwin’s wettest months. Water will then be stored in the AROWS basin, then pumped via a new pipeline adjacent to Stuart Highway to the proposed Strauss Water Treatment Plant for distribution.

Current modelling shows that AROWS can hold around 250 gigalitres (GL) of water at full supply level (FSL) and will supply 60.2GL per year to the Darwin region. By comparison, Darwin River Dam holds 303GL of water at FSL but can only supply 32GL per year.

AROWS is an innovative and sustainable large scale water storage project. There will be no dam infrastructure built across the Adelaide River that will impede the flow of the river, minimising the impact on the environment.

Before a commitment can be made to fund and deliver the AROWS project, a rigorous planning and approvals phase will be undertaken.

This 3 to 4 year phase includes engaging with the community, undertaking detailed studies and science, and working with the regulator to ensure strict environmental conditions can be met.