Hon Jim Scott asks about the recharge rate of the Yarragadee aquifer, both current and projected under future rainfall scenarios, following up on a previous question. The answer provides a current estimate but states future projections are not yet available.

AnsweredQoN 1247Legislative Council
Asked
16 September 2003
Portfolio
the Environment

QuestionView source ↗

Further to question on notice No. 1057 of August 12 2003 about the study the Waters and Rivers Commission and Water Corporation were commissioned to carry out on the increased extraction from the Yarragadee aquifer -
(1) What is the current recharge rate of the Yarragadee aquifer in GL/annum?
(2) What are the calculated recharge rates for the Yarragadee aquifer in GL/annum for each of the future rainfall modelling variations?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 October 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
30 days
(1) Based on the information available, the current (as at 6 October 2003) estimated direct recharge to the South West Yarragadee Aquifer, or rainfall directly over aquifer outcrop areas that enters the regional watertable, is approximately 24 GL/yr, based on an annual recharge of 150mm to 200mm in two identified recharge areas. Additional amounts of indirect recharge also enters the South West Yarragadee Aquifer from runoff and from leakage through overlying aquifers across the Southern Perth Basin. Estimates of this indirect recharge are currently being assessed from groundwater modelling. (2) Groundwater modelling scenarios using projected rainfall conditions have not yet been run.

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