Introduction
The Adelaide Plains area runs from the Northern Adelaide Plains
to the Willunga basin in the south and covers about 560km²
of the coastal plains. Groundwater in the region is used extensively
for industrial purposes, including manufacture of soft drinks
and beer, as well as for irrigation by schools and golf courses.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) of stormwater is undertaken
at several locations throughout the region. >>
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The groundwater is sourced mainly from the Tertiary aquifers
in the region that can be up to 600m below ground. The EPA monitors
water quality in this aquifer system throughout the region.
Water quality assessment
Water quality is assessed as being in good,
moderate or poor
condition by interpreting water chemistry data in the context
of protecting various environmental values. >>
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Groundwater samples are collected annually from eight bores in
the Adelaide Metropolitan area. The indicators that are measured
are nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), heavy metals and salinity.
The environmental values that need to be protected are freshwater
ecosystems, drinking water, irrigation use and livestock use.
Only one sample per year is collected from each well, as groundwater
movement in the aquifer is very slow. Reported water quality is
therefore assessed on the collective results from all eight wells,
rather than for each individual well. This means that local groundwater
may vary across the region.
Water quality classification for 2005
|
Indicator
|
Ecosystem
|
Drinking Water
|
Irrigation
|
Livestock
|
|
|
Good
|
Good
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
Good
|
NA
|
Good
|
NA
|
|
|
Good
|
NA
|
Moderate
|
NA
|
|
|
Good
|
Poor
|
Poor
|
Good
|
| Salinity |
NA
|
Poor
|
NA
|
NA
|
Notes NA = Not applicable
The groundwater quality in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area is
considered good for freshwater ecosystems and livestock.
The groundwater is classified as poor for drinking water due
to high iron and salinity levels. Elevated salinity occurs naturally
in some areas of the aquifer. However, leakage from shallow saline
aquifers may occur down old leaky bores. Additionally, there may
be seepage from saline underlying aquifers in areas where extraction
has reduced water pressures.
For irrigation purposes, the groundwater is poor due to its high
iron level. Whilst elevated iron may not cause problems with many
crops, it can lead to problems with clogging of irrigation equipment.
Pesticides in groundwater
Groundwater samples are analysed for a number of pesticides that
may leach into it as a result of past or present agricultural
practices. Pesticides analysed in groundwater samples include
several herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. >>
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If pesticides are detected in an aquifer, the environmental values
of the aquifer are affected. Therefore, the detection of any pesticide
in groundwater is considered to be a significant problem and warrants
further assessment and or management.
The results of groundwater pesticide monitoring in the Adelaide
Metropolitan Area
|
Year
|
2005
|
|
Have pesticides been detected?
|
No
|
NS = not sampled
Download graphs
Annual water quality monitoring by the EPA in the Adelaide
Metropolitan Area was initiated in 2005. There is currently not
enough data available for graphing purposes.
Download raw water quality data
What is being done to improve groundwater
quality in the Adelaide Plains
The EPA is responding to problems with groundwater in the Adelaide
Metropolitan Area by requiring licensees who could pollute groundwater
to monitor water quality.
The EPA is developing a Code of Practice for Aquifer Storage
and Recovery (ASR). This will assist the EPA to manage the application
of ASR whilst minimising the pollutant risks to the groundwater.
The Department
of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation has reported
on the usage
of the Adelaide Plains groundwater (1.8MB PDF).
As a result this groundwater resource is in the process of being
prescribed to ensure that the use of this groundwater can be managed
in a sustainable way.
In a more general sense, the EPA works with the Adelaide &
Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board, the community
and industry to increase awareness of groundwater quality problems
and develop appropriate management strategies. >>
More
Efforts to improve the condition of South Australia's groundwater
resources are being driven by various government agencies, primarily
The Environment
Protection Authority
The Department
of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation
Adelaide
and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board
Department
for Environment and Heritage (SA)
Collaborative projects and programs being run by these agencies
are based on the protection of environmental values, as explained
in the National
Water Quality Management Strategy.
This page was last modified 31-10-2006
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