KBR Inc. (Houston, Texas) has been awarded a four-year contract by South Australian Water Corp. (SA Water) to support the utility's capital delivery program, one of the South Australian Government's most significant infrastructure programs.
The contract was won through a competitive tender and extends KBR's 15-year partnership with the Adelaide-based utility through 2030. It covers a period in which SA Water plans approximately A$3.3 billion of water infrastructure projects over four years, described as its largest-ever period of investment.
SA Water supplies water and wastewater services to 1.8 million customers across South Australia, and the capital program is intended to maintain and expand that network. KBR's role is to support delivery of the critical projects within it.
Scope of work
The agreement covers support for a range of water and wastewater assets:
- Dam upgrades
- Water tank refurbishments
- Bulk water transfer infrastructure
- Water main replacements
- Sewer network upgrades
- Water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades
The scope spans both water and wastewater assets, from source and storage — dams and tanks — through bulk transfer and distribution mains to sewer collection networks and treatment plants. Because the program runs as a portfolio of individual projects, KBR's support extends to design and project management input on schemes ranging from mains replacement to large pipeline upgrades and small-town supply works.
Company comment
Margaret Riley, KBR's director of water, said the appointment reinforces the company's position as a trusted partner in the water sector. According to Riley, KBR has worked alongside SA Water for 15 years to design, deliver and project manage some of the most critical water infrastructure projects, and the new contract demonstrates the team's experience, technical capability and focus on safety, innovation and service excellence. She said the company looks forward to working closely with SA Water to deliver lasting benefits for customers, communities and the broader South Australian economy.
Delivery record and forward program
According to the company, the capital delivery team has managed more than 2,000 individual projects over the past year. These included 69 kilometers of new water mains, a major upgrade of the 132-kilometer Tailem Bend to Keith pipeline, and a desalination plant for the outback town of Marree.
Major programs KBR expects to support over the next four years include South Australia's Housing Roadmap, which involves expanding water and wastewater networks to support an estimated 50,000 new homes across the state. Further work includes infrastructure delivery such as upgrades to the Morgan to Whyalla pipeline, South Australia's longest water pipeline at 358 kilometers.