Research Library
Resource management technical reports Natural resources research
2004
Groundwater study of the York townsite
Edward K. Crossley
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Rural Towns Program
Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/rmtr
Part of the Agriculture Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Soil Science Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons
Recommended Citation Crossley, E K, and Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Rural Towns Program. (2004), Groundwater study of the York townsite. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Report 261.
This report is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural resources research at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Resource management technical reports by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GROUNDWATER STUDY OF THE YORK TOWNSITE
Edward K Crossley
November 2004
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL REPORT 261 ISSN 1039-7205
Resource Management Technical Report 261
Groundwater study of the York townsite
Edward K. Crossley
November 2004
YORK GROUNDWATER STUDY
DISCLAIMER The contents of this report were based on the best available information at the time of publication. It is based in part on various assumptions and predictions. Conditions may change over time and conclusions should be interpreted in the light of the latest information available.
For further information contact: Mr Mark Pridham Rural Towns Program Manager Department of Agriculture Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6953 Telephone: (08) 9368 3333
State of Western Australia, 2004
2 YORK GROUNDWATER STUDY
Summary A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of York in April-May 2002. The purpose was to collect information on local groundwater systems that could be used to develop a salinity management strategy. The study included a drilling program, which established a network of monitoring bores. Seventy-seven monitoring bores were installed at 32 sites as well as a production bore for testing aquifer properties.
The regolith beneath York consists of alluvial sediments that infill a palaeochannel of the proto-Avon River. Away from the river, more recent colluvium overlies the sediments, which become thinner with distance from the main palaeochannel and in turn, overlie weathered saprolite. Depth to bedrock is up to 15 m below ground in the weathered saprolite and up to 75 m below ground level in the alluvial palaeochannel regolith. Groundwater levels were within a metre of the surface on the lower terrace of the Avon floodplain. Elsewhere watertables are greater than 3 m below ground level.
At present, York has a low salinity risk. Groundwater salinity was marginal to saline. Shallow watertables were generally more saline than intermediate aquifers, which in turn were more saline than deep aquifers. An apparent plume of saline water in an intermediate depth aquifer extending down the gradient from the football and hockey grounds registered the highest salinity. Damage to buildings and infrastructure in the town is likely due to water perching on impermeable surface and near-surface clay soils.
Recommended actions include revegetating bare land with perennials to increase water use and reduce waterlogging and recharge, greater uptake of the sewage infill scheme and adoption of Waterwise strategies.
Consideration should also be given to improving the surface water drainage system to reduce damage from waterlogging. Groundwater monitoring should continue at least four times a year for the next 10 years to determine if the watertable is rising. The monitoring bore network in place will act as an early war