Groundwater prohibition area established at West Lakes and Royal Park
The EPA will establish a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) in parts of West Lakes and Royal Park.
The EPA has completed a 60-day community engagement process and considered all submissions. The GPA will come into effect when it is gazetted on 14 December 2023, and it will be the 12th GPA in South Australia.
It follows assessment of groundwater quality in the area showing it has been contaminated with chemical substances, including per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are manufactured chemicals that have been used for more than 50 years to make products non-stick, water repellent, and fire, weather and stain resistant.
South Australia was the first state in Australia to ban all fluorinated (PFAS-containing) fire-fighting foams, which have been a key source of PFAS contamination around the world.
The GPA will prohibit the taking of water from bores to a depth of 13 metres for any purpose. The area is shown in the attached map.
EPA Director of Policy, Assessment and Finance Kathryn Bellette said the GPA had been put in place by the EPA to prevent potential harm to human health.
“The purpose of establishing GPAs is to protect current and future landholders from accessing contaminated groundwater,” Ms Bellette said.
Groundwater from bores in deeper tertiary aquifers, such as those used by council for the irrigation of ovals, are not known to be affected.
The prohibition covers the entire area of known contamination and a buffer zone. There are 808 property titles in the GPA, of which 84% are residential. Mains water and rainwater are safe to use.
The West Lakes lake system is not impacted by PFAS contamination and is safe for recreational use.