The Pilbara region is extremely important to the state's (and the nation's) economy, being home to major industrial projects, mainly in the iron ore and oil and gas sectors. The Pilbara has WA's highest average volume of water supplied per capita, at 480 kL per year, due in part to its high average temperatures. Water supply to the region's towns and ports totals 22.7 GL per year. Recently upgraded water supplies for the West Pilbara and Port Hedland town water supply schemes are sufficient to meet short-term demand. A reduction in the growth outlook for mining is likely to delay the need for further supply augmentation in the short to medium term for these towns. A brackish groundwater source and desalination plant is being developed to meet growth in demand for Onslow. The Water Corporation, under its 2012 Water Forever Whatever the Weather - A 10-year plan for Western Australia plans to spend $980 million over the next 10 years to upgrade major water and wastewater systems in the region and to encourage increased use of recycled water to cater for future growth.
A number of studies have been completed by the WA State Government to identify water supply opportunities in the Pilbara to support economic development and diversification in the region. The Pilbara Integrated Water Supply Pre-Feasibility Study (Department of Water, WA 2009) identified several water supply options, including the use of surplus mine dewater for irrigated agriculture.
In November 2013, the WA Government approved $12.5 million through the Royalties for Regions for the Pilbara Hinterland Agricultural Development Initiative to investigate the use of surplus mine dewater for irrigated agriculture in the Pilbara, and provide the baseline knowledge to inform future development decisions by government and/or private industry. Pilbara Hinterland Agricultural Development Initiative is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA and due for completion in late 2018.