Water is a defining feature of the Pilbara. Its management was and remains vital for the pastoral industry which European settlers established when they first came to the Pilbara, and for the mining industry which now dominates economic activity in the Pilbara. Water availability in the Pilbara is, however, problematic. Severe droughts and major floods can occur at close intervals. In response to this uncertainty, the Department of Water undertook a Prefeasibility Study to determine, at a high level, the water requirements and opportunities in the Pilbara region. This paper reports on the outcomes of this study and the water integration opportunities in the region, identifying the sources of water supply and offers possible options for managing this water sustainably for the present and future demand._x000D_
A range of supply opportunities is reviewed including: dewatering from mining operations, surface water, and desalination._x000D_
All opportunities were subject to order of magnitude costing, including capital, whole of life and retail unit pricing with preferred options receiving further interrogation through triple bottom line (TBL) analysis to prioritise solutions. Options were also subject to intangible quantification (IQ) including benefits from the reduction of carbon emissions to ensure that the preferred option is based on factors other than just the least cost._x000D_
Demand analysis was undertaken to identify current and future requirements and were assessed through review and integration of regional and sub regional master plans and consultation with mining, agriculture, industry and the community._x000D_
The paper concludes that the viability of a Pilbara integrated water supply scheme depends on the development of a financial mechanism involving both government and industry participation models. The agreed scheme formed the basis of a submission to Infrastructure Australia for funding assistance._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Rosair, P, Fraser, P, Zic, K and Pickering, P, 2009. Water supply options for the Pilbara, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2009, pp 125-136 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).