Beverley and Woodville South
EPA assessment area
The EPA commenced environmental assessment in Beverley and Woodville South in 2015.
The purpose of the assessment has been to understand potential health risks from contamination associated with historical industrial and waste management practices across Beverley.
The investigations have been focused on assessing the scale of chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination, primarily trichloroethene (TCE), in groundwater and soil vapour.
Extensive assessment of groundwater has found the contamination extends across much of Beverley and westward into parts of Woodville South. The groundwater contamination continues to move slowly west. To prevent exposure to the contamination in groundwater, the EPA has advised owners in the area not to use groundwater (bore water) for any purpose. To formalise this advice and to prevent bores being installed in the future, the EPA established a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) (Stage 1 in December 2022 and Stage 2 in March 2023) to prohibit the taking of groundwater to a depth of 45 m below ground level.
TCE contamination in groundwater is volatile and provides a source of vapour in the soil. Vapours in the soil can move upwards into buildings in a process called vapour intrusion where concentrations of TCE can build up indoors and present long-term health risks. The EPA has undertaken work on private properties and has tested indoor air in some homes for vapour contamination coming up through the soil. In a small number of homes the EPA has installed mitigation systems to reduce this vapour to very low levels, which are considered to be safe over a long duration of time.
The most recent assessment (Stage 8 and 8S) was completed in May 2023.
Maps
Chemicals of concern
Vapour intrusion
The chemical substances found to be present in groundwater) have the potential to change from liquid to gas (volatilise) and move through the soil as vapour. It is then possible for this vapour to migrate and build up in underground spaces such as cellars and basements, as well as move into the indoor air of buildings. This is referred to as vapour intrusion.
Underground structures are closer to the contaminated groundwater and may increase the risk of vapour intrusion into buildings, including into rooms on the ground level. Any owners with cellars or basements should contact EPA for further advice regarding vapour intrusion risk.
Watch this animated video explaining vapour intrusion.
Selling or buying
The EPA is obligated under the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Regulations 2010 to flag an interest in all certificates of title for properties within an EPA assessment area where an environmental assessment report has been prepared.
This interest will result in a positive response on the Form 1 prepared during the sale of a property and ensures that future potential purchasers are aware that an environmental assessment has been undertaken.
This means a prospective purchaser considering purchasing a property located within the assessment area, will now observe a YES response to Question 4(c) in the EPA Statement to Form 1.
In addition to this YES response, a note will be included to refer the potential purchaser to the EPA website to obtain information in relation to this assessment area.
This is in addition to the EPA interest relating to the groundwater prohibition area that has been established in the area.
Should you required further information regarding the environmental assessment or how this relates to a specific property, please contact the EPA for tailored advice.
Community updates and letters
Other information
Technical reports
- Stage 8S environmental assessment
- Stage 8 environmental assessment
- Stage 7S environmental assessment, June 2022 | Appendices (on request)
- Stage 7 environmental assessment, January 2021 | Appendices (on request)
- Reducing vapour intrusion into your home, December 2020
- Beverley Stage 6 groundwater monitoring event report, August 2019 | Appendices A | B | C
- Beverley Stage 4A environmental site assessment, September 2017
- Beverley Stage 3B Validation (site specific) assessment works, June 2016 | Appendices A to G | H to M
- Beverley assessment area – summary of historical activities, May 2016
- Beverley broader area assessment report, 26 April 2016 | Appendices (on request)
- Conceptual site model, October 2015
- Preliminary vapour intrusion assessment, October 2015
- Preliminary human health risk assessment, October 2015
- Stage 4 Indoor air data report, August–September 2015
- Stage 3 vapour monitoring data report, July–August 2015
- Beverley Stage 4B indoor air data report, September 2015
- Vapour mitigation strategy, August 2015
- Stage 2 vapour monitoring data report, July 2015
- Groundwater and soil vapour data Report | Appendices, May 2015
Media releases
- EPA, 4 February 2019
- EPA, 29 June 2016
- EPA, 12 May 2016
- EPA, 15 January 2015
- EPA, 25 September 2015
- EPA, 2 September 2015
- EPA, 9 July 2015
- EPA, 29 May 2015
- EPA, 10 April 2015
- EPA, 8 October 2014
- SA Health, 1 July 2008
- SA Health, 16 January 2008
- SA Health, 18 December 2007
Further information
For further information, please contact the EPA on (08) 8429 7554 or email.
For health-related information, please contact SA Health on (08) 8226 7100 or email.
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