❓ Hon. Carolyn Burton asks about the Department of Water's groundwater monitoring program, including the network of bores, testing frequency, elements tested, and bore locations. The response details the number of bores, testing schedules, and parameters monitored, as well as locations of some bores.
AnsweredQoN 665Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Department of Water, maintain a network of water bores that are used to take samples, to test water quality anywhere across the State?
(2) How often is the water tested?
(3) For what elements or minerals, is the water tested?
(4) Is the Minister able to table a list of the approximate location of the test bores?
(2) How often is the water tested?
(3) For what elements or minerals, is the water tested?
(4) Is the Minister able to table a list of the approximate location of the test bores?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 May 2009
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Water
Response time
42 days
The Department of Water has provided the following response:
(1) The Department of Water (DoW) has a network of 2461 monitoring bores to monitor groundwater levels throughout the State. These monitoring bores can be used for monitoring water quality. 111 of these bores were routinely tested for water quality in 2008.
Most new monitoring bores have initial one-off testing of water quality at the time of construction and there is only follow up testing undertaken when required. The DoW also has another 6200 bores installed for specific project purposes and have short-term water quality testing.
(2) The 111 bores were sampled at rates of between 1 and 4 times a year.
The DoW has a large database of one-off and short-term water quality results. For example, in 2008 and 2009, there was groundwater quality testing of 80 project bores around key wetlands across the Gnangara Mound. Water samples are collected at monthly intervals as part of a 3 year investigation of Perth's shallow groundwater systems. These project bores are not part of the monitoring network.
(3) The 111 bores were sampled for salinity, pH and temperature.
For the 80 project bores around key wetlands across the Gnangara Mound a comprehensive suite of 20 elements (inorganic and organic) are being collected at monthly intervals.
(4) The 111 bores are located along the Swan River and Perth coastline (18 bores) to monitor the saltwater interface; in Carnarvon to manage saltwater intrusion related to groundwater abstraction (34 bores); and around Kununurra to monitor salinity increases related to the Ord irrigation area (59 bores).
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(1) The Department of Water (DoW) has a network of 2461 monitoring bores to monitor groundwater levels throughout the State. These monitoring bores can be used for monitoring water quality. 111 of these bores were routinely tested for water quality in 2008.
Most new monitoring bores have initial one-off testing of water quality at the time of construction and there is only follow up testing undertaken when required. The DoW also has another 6200 bores installed for specific project purposes and have short-term water quality testing.
(2) The 111 bores were sampled at rates of between 1 and 4 times a year.
The DoW has a large database of one-off and short-term water quality results. For example, in 2008 and 2009, there was groundwater quality testing of 80 project bores around key wetlands across the Gnangara Mound. Water samples are collected at monthly intervals as part of a 3 year investigation of Perth's shallow groundwater systems. These project bores are not part of the monitoring network.
(3) The 111 bores were sampled for salinity, pH and temperature.
For the 80 project bores around key wetlands across the Gnangara Mound a comprehensive suite of 20 elements (inorganic and organic) are being collected at monthly intervals.
(4) The 111 bores are located along the Swan River and Perth coastline (18 bores) to monitor the saltwater interface; in Carnarvon to manage saltwater intrusion related to groundwater abstraction (34 bores); and around Kununurra to monitor salinity increases related to the Ord irrigation area (59 bores).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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