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Expert says Logue Brook Dam can have dual use

Posted August 20, 2008 13:18:00

A water expert has dismissed the Western Australian Government's argument that Logue Brook Dam cannot be used for recreational purposes if it is also supplying drinking water to Perth.

If it wins the election, the Liberal Party will reopen the dam to the public.

The Government says using the dam for both drinking water and recreation will reduce the quality of the water.

Jason Antenucci from the Centre for Water Research says dual use dams are common in other parts of the world and the Government is being conservative.

"It's extremely conservative. There's no technical reason why you can't have multiple use water bodies, it just has tended to be historically the way we've managed our water with fully protected catchments. It's an unusual situation worldwide, but it's one that the utilities are used to operating under," he said.

The Water Corporation says it traditionally would not use water for drinking supplies if it came from a recreational facility.

Tags: dams-and-reservoirs, states-and-territories, water, bunbury-6230, yarloop-6218

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