Overview of the Hydrogeology of the Adelaide Metropolitan Area
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DWLBC REPORT Overview of the hydrogeology of the Adelaide metropolitan area. 2006/10 Overview of the hydrogeology of the Adelaide metropolitan area Nabil Gerges Knowledge and Information Division Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation June 2006 Report DWLBC 2006/10 Knowledge and Information Division Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation 25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001 Telephone National (08) 8463 6946 International +61 8 8463 6946 Fax National (08) 8463 6999 International +61 8 8463 6999 Website www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au Disclaimer Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained herein as regards to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation and its employees expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice. © Government of South Australia, through the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation 2006 This work is Copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth), no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission obtained from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Chief Executive, Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001. ISBN 1 921218 10 X Preferred way to cite this publication Gerges, N., 2006. Overview of the hydrogeology of the Adelaide metropolitan area. South Australia. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. DWLBC Report 2006/10. This document was first produced in 1996. It remains relevant today and is often requested as a reference. Hence, DWLBC are releasing the original version as a public document. FOREWORD South Australia’s unique and precious natural resources are fundamental to the economic and social wellbeing of the State. It is critical that these resources are managed in a sustainable manner to safeguard them both for current users and for future generations. The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) strives to ensure that our natural resources are managed so that they are available for all users, including the environment. In order for us to best manage these natural resources it is imperative that we have a sound knowledge of their condition and how they are likely to respond to management changes. DWLBC scientific and technical staff continues to improve this knowledge through undertaking investigations, technical reviews and resource modelling. Rob Freeman CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF WATER, LAND AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Report DWLBC 2006/10 i Overview of the hydrogeology of the Adelaide metropolitan area CONTENTS FOREWORD.............................................................................................................................i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................3 2. AIM AND OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................5 3. METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................6 4. RESULTS.........................................................................................................................7 5. DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................................8 6. SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................9 6.1 HYDROGEOLOGICAL ZONES................................................................................9 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..............................................................11 7.1 FIRST QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q1) ..................................................................11 7.1.1 Salinity ........................................................................................................................... 11 7.1.2 Potentiometric surface and groundwater flow ............................................................... 12 7.1.3 Water level fluctuations and changes............................................................................ 12 7.2 SECOND QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q2) .............................................................13 7.2.1 Salinity ........................................................................................................................... 13 7.2.2 Potentiometric surface and groundwater flow ............................................................... 13 7.2.3 Head difference between Q1 and Q2 aquifers .............................................................. 14 7.3 THIRD QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q3)..................................................................14 7.3.1 Salinity ........................................................................................................................... 14 7.3.2 Potentiometric surface and groundwater flow ............................................................... 14 7.4 FOURTH QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q4)..............................................................15 7.4.1 SALINITY....................................................................................................................... 15 7.4.2 Potentiometric surface, groundwater flow and seasonal fluctuations ........................... 15 7.5 FIFTH QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q5) ..................................................................16 7.5.1 Salinity ........................................................................................................................... 16 7.5.2 Potentiometric surface and groundwater flow ............................................................... 16 7.5.3 Water level decline and seasonal fluctuations .............................................................. 16 7.6 SIXTH QUATERNARY AQUIFER (Q6)..................................................................17 7.6.1 Salinity ........................................................................................................................... 17 7.7 QUATERNARY AQUIFER CONFINING BEDS......................................................17 7.8 QUATERNARY AQUIFER HEAD RELATIONSHIPS.............................................18 7.8.1 Historic head relationships ............................................................................................ 18 7.8.2 Present day head relationships ..................................................................................... 18 Report DWLBC 2006/10 iii Overview of the hydrogeology of the Adelaide metropolitan area CONTENTS 7.9 OUTFLOW FROM QUATERNARY AQUIFERS.....................................................19 7.9.1 Historic outflow .............................................................................................................. 19 7.9.2 Present day outflow ....................................................................................................... 20 8. TERTIARY AQUIFERS..................................................................................................21 8.1 FIRST TERTIARY AQUIFER (T1)..........................................................................21 8.1.1 Historic salinity distribution in the first Tertiary aquifer .................................................. 25 8.1.2 Recharge and flow mechanisms ................................................................................... 26 8.1.3 Pre-development historic potentiometric surface and groundwater flow....................... 27 8.1.4 Summary of historic salinity and potentiometric surface ............................................... 28 8.1.5 Groundwater extraction ................................................................................................. 29 8.1.6 Historic potentiometric surface development and pumpage ......................................... 29 8.1.7 Present day potentiometric surface development and pumpage .................................. 31 8.1.8 Summary of potentiometric surfaces............................................................................. 34 8.1.9 Changes in water level .................................................................................................. 35 8.1.10 Annual changes in present day cone of depression west of Adelaide.......................... 36 8.1.11 Long term changes in size of area of influence due to pumping................................... 36 8.1.12 Summary of water level changes .................................................................................. 37 8.1.13 First Tertiary aquifer parameters ................................................................................... 37 8.2 SECOND TERTIARY AQUIFER (T2).....................................................................38 8.2.1 Historic potentiometric surface ...................................................................................... 39 8.2.2 Present day pumpage and potentiometric surface........................................................ 40 8.2.3 Changes in water level and