Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
“Snow is some distance away and it takes a lot of energy to melt it”
Davis makes around 1.5 million litres of its own water every year and another 250,000 litres is shipped in on RSV Nuyina.
In summer, drinking water is produced by pumping water from a high-saline tarn near the station into a reverse osmosis (RO), or desalination, plant.
In winter that tarn freezes over, forcing the station to rely on stored water.
“Although there is a lot of ice around Davis, melting it isn’t really an option,” Mr Wuersching said.
“The snow is some distance away and it takes a lot of energy to melt it. That’s the second challenge we have at Davis – power.
“We can’t solve the water problems without addressing the power problems.”
In November 2026, works will start at Davis station to install a second reverse osmosis plant. This will replace the existing one and will also incorporate a new seawater intake.
Salt water will be pumped out of the ocean and heated before it’s sent to the RO plants to be turned into drinking water (heating is required first to make the reverse osmosis process work most efficiently).
After that comes a new utilities building that will house the main powerhouse, trades and mechanical workshops. The old buildings will be dismantled and returned to Australia.
An architectural impression of how inside Davis research station will look after the upgrades. Photo: Hugh Broughton Architects