Groundwater quality at Padthaway

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Archived water quality assessments

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. >> More

Groundwater samples are collected annually from 7 bores in the Padthaway area. The indicators that are measured in the unconfined aquifer in the Keith area are nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), heavy metals, arsenic and salinity. The environmental values that need to be protected are freshwater ecosystems, irrigation use and livestock use.

Water quality classification for 2005

Indicator	Ecosystem	Drinking Water	Irrigation	Livestock
Nitrate	NA	Poor	NA	NA
Nitrite	NA	Good	NA	NA
Oxidised Nitrogen	Poor	NA	NA	NA
Total Nitrogen	Poor	NA	Good	NA
Total Phosphorus	Good	NA	Good	NA
Metals	Good	Good	Good	Good
Salinity	NA	Poor	NA	Good

NA = not applicable

For the freshwater ecosystems, the groundwater is poor because of its high nitrogen concentration, which is most likely due to inappropriate agricultural practices. The groundwater is classified as poor for drinking due to high salinity. This is largely due to excess irrigation water leaching salts from the soil.

In terms of drinking water quality, the groundwater in the Padthaway region is poor because of elevated nitrate. Nitrate can cause methaemoglobinaemia (Blue Baby Syndrome) in young infants. The South Australian Department of Health recommends that groundwater users in the South East should have bore water tested for nitrate if they intend to use it as drinking water. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines recommend a guideline value of 50 mg-nitrate/L to protect bottle-fed infants under 3 months of age. Up to 100 mg-nitrate/L can be safely consumed by adults and children over 3 months of age.

Drinking water quality is also classified as poor because the salinity is around 1400 -1600 mg/L, which is above the NH&MRC guideline (for taste) of 500mg/L.

Overall, the groundwater quality in the Padthaway area is considered good for irrigation and livestock.

Pesticides in groundwater

Groundwater samples are collected annually and analysed for a variety of pesticides that may be leached into the unconfined aquifer as a result of past or present agricultural practices. Pesticides analysed in groundwater samples include several herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. >> More

If pesticides are detected in an aquifer system, the environmental values of the aquifer are compromised. Therefore, the detection of any pesticides in groundwater is considered significant and warrants further assessment and or management response.

The results of groundwater pesticide monitoring in the Padthaway area

Year	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Have pesticides been detected?	No	No	No	No	No	NS	NS	No

NS = not sampled

This page was last modified 24-07-2007