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( 10 billion imperial or 12 billion U. S. gallons ) of potable water per year ; its power requirements were met by the construction of the Emu Downs Wind Farm near Cervantes.

Consideration was given to piping water from the Kimberley region, but the idea was rejected in May 2006 due primarily to its high cost.

Other proposals under consideration included the controversial extraction of an extra 45 gigalitres of water a year from the Yarragadee aquifer in the south-west of the state.

However, in May 2007, the state government announced that a second desalination plant will be built at Binningup, on the coast between Mandurah and Bunbury.

A trial winter ( 1 June – 31 August ) sprinkler ban was introduced in 2009 by the State Government, a move which the Government later announced would be made permanent.

In September 2009 Western Australia's dams reached 50 % overall capacity for the first time since 2000.