SA Water begin marine surveys for Sleaford desalination plantSA Water begins marine geology assessments and habitat surveys for the proposed $80-million Sleaford Bay seawater desalination plant as part of the next steps forward for the project. After the project was announced in August last year five consultations were held across the Eyre Peninsula, before the next step, the construction and planning phase of the desalination plant, commenced. The assessment and survey should address one of the key concerns raised in public consultations, the potential impacts to the marine environment. An SA Water spokesperson said during April and May the company was undertaking marine assessments for the proposed project. "We're progressing plans for a proposed desalination plant at Sleaford Bay, which will ensure a sustainable, reliable and safe drinking water supply for Eyre Peninsula into the future," they said. "We are undertaking marine geology assessments and marine habitat surveys as part of ongoing site investigations to inform planning and design for the desalination plant." While the project is still in the approval process and development assessment stages if it is approved the two to three gigalitre plant will take about 12 to 18 months to construct.