Thebarton and Mile End
Groundwater Prohibition Area
The EPA is undertaking environmental assessment work in Thebarton, where groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) has been found in the vicinity of a former metal processing site on George Street. This is part of an ongoing ‘orphan site’ program, where the original polluter is not able to carry out the work and the site has been prioritised based on the potential for a risk to health.
The groundwater contamination is believed to be associated with past industrial practices that used a chemical trichloroethene (TCE). This is likely to have occurred as a result of historical chemical disposal and handling that was considered appropriate many decades ago but is no longer acceptable by today’s standards.
The risk of vapour from groundwater entering into residential indoor air has been assessed, with computer modelling predicting the majority of residential properties in the area to be safe.
Following a 90-day community consultation, a Groundwater Prohibition Area has been established for portions of Thebarton and Mile End. Please visit the EPA Engage for further information.
Background
The EPA has been assessing groundwater and soil vapour in Thebarton for historically used chemicals including trichloroethene (TCE), since May 2017.
It has long been understood that volatile chemicals can be transported in groundwater. More recently it has been discovered that they can also be found in the air spaces between soil particles as vapour.
The EPA conducted indoor air sampling in a number of properties within the Thebarton assessment area to identify whether any TCE vapours from the contaminated groundwater had entered their homes.
Nine of these properties measured no TCE in indoor air and are considered safe. Six of the properties measured within the 'Intervention' category of the indoor air level response range overleaf, and the EPA and Renewal SA are now working with these residents to design solutions that will reduce the TCE vapour to safe levels.
Mitigation systems have successfully been installed in homes in other areas of Adelaide with TCE vapour.
Reports
Please visit EPA Engage for the latest information.
Maps
Community updates
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Videos
Media releases
Further information
Please visit EPA Engage for further information the Groundwater Prohibition Area.
For further information on health-related queries, please contact SA Health on (08) 8226 7100 or email.
For site contamination related enquiries, please contact the EPA on (08) 8124 4216 or email.
