Cootamundra
Indicator: Groundwater
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please note: Text or data highlighted in this colour represent an update to this indicator for the period 2008/09.
What the results tell us for Cootamundra
Groundwater in the Cootamundra Shire is of moderate quality (DLWC 1999); with a steadily decreasing water table (DWE 2008). The groundwater is not considered suitable for human consumption but can be used for some livestock, domestic and limited industrial uses without treatment.
Groundwater supplies
Groundwater flow in the Shire is mostly from intermediate flow systems in predominately sedimentary and extrusive Palaeozoic rock with some younger sedimentary Quaternary rock to the north (DPI 1998). Bore hydrograph data indicates a consistent seasonally adjusted drop in water levels for the reporting period 2004 to 2008, continuing a trend observed since 1991. A low natural rainfall is likely to be the most significant factor which is further compounded by an increase in extraction (Beale et al. 2004).
Groundwater use
Total groundwater extraction in the Cootamundra area is less than 10 GL/yr compared with the natural recharge of more than 500 GL/yr (AWR 2000). This is considered a low to moderate level of extraction (0 to 69% extraction of recharge), and sustainable for the entire area. However, the Department of Water and Energy has rated the threat to groundwater quality as low to moderately high (DLWC 2001).
Cootamundra Shire Council does not extract groundwater as part of its water supply.
The State Water Corporation (SWC), on behalf of the Department of Water and Energy, administers much of the water allocation in rural NSW. To recover the cost of administration, infrastructure and future investment, the SWC charges each licensed user. Base charges are $51.46 for non-monitored or $118.56 for monitored areas, plus a per megalitre access charge. Cootamundra covers both the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee groundwater areas which charge different rates. In the north is the Lachlan groundwater area where users are charged $2.10/ML access charge and $1.09/ML usage charge. In the southern Murrumbidgee groundwater area users are charged $1.03/ML access charge and $0.51 usage charge. Although base charges are consistent throughout the state, access and usage charges to be low to moderate compared to the rest of the State (SWC 2008).
Groundwater quality
Groundwater salinity in the Cootamundra area is moderate (1,000-3,000 mg\L) with little variation throughout the region (DLWC 1999). Water is considered suitable for livestock and limited domestic and industrial use only. Groundwater in the area is unsuitable for human consumption without treatment.
Much of the area with the Cootamundra Shire is considered a high salinity hazard with approximately 25% of the Shire likely to be affected by 2050. This is exclusively a problem of the southern part of the Shire. The northern part of the Shire has no recognised threats.
During 2008-09 testing of groundwater in all Council parks and gardens continued with varying results registered.
Managing groundwater demand
Water conservation measures
Cootamundra is covered by both the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA) and the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (MCMA). The CMA’s were established to guarantee the protection and sustainable development within the area of administration, including impact on water quality and use. With regard to groundwater, the CMA’s have in place the following water management targets (LCMA 2007, MCMA 2007) for the Cootamundra area:
- By 2016, groundwater sources are being managed in accordance with the four Groundwater Management Plans.
- By 2016, three surface water sources are being managed in accordance with the Water Sharing Plans.
- By 2016, integrated water cycle management provides an effective means for local water utilities (often run by local Councils), to manage their water systems to maximise benefits for the community and environment.
- By 2016, complete and implement a water use efficiency strategy in cooperation with water users.
- By 2016, implement activities identified within existing and future floodplain management plans identified as providing environmental benefits.
Laws and policy
Outside of regional CMA policies, the use and treatment of groundwater is generally the same throughout NSW. Specifically water management and use in the Cootamundra Shire is covered under:
- NSW Water Extraction Monitoring Policy (2007): Designed to increase the extent of active monitoring of water extraction to cover 90% of the total volume of water extracted for each water sharing plan.
- NSW Water Extraction Monitoring Standards (2005): Designed to increase the quality of groundwater extraction monitoring.
- National Water Initiative (2004): NSW is a party to the National Water Initiative (NWI), a national initiative to coordinated Australia's water supply to guarantee the greatest possible social, economic, and environmental benefits.
- NSW NWI Implementation Plan: Addresses the initiatives set out in the NWI specific to the State of NSW.
- Living Murray and Snowy Initiatives (2002): Initiative between Federal and State governments concerned predominately with surface water, however, may indirectly impact on groundwater.
- Water Management Act 2000 (NSW): Aim is to protect the supply of water to the environment and water users. Its introduction has been gradual and once fully implemented will largely supersede the Water Act 1912.
- NSW Groundwater Quality Protection Policy (1998): Aim is largely to protect groundwater resources against pollution.
- Local Government Act 1993(NSW): Covers the quality of water supplied for human consumption by local Council, including groundwater as a source.
- Water Act 1912 (NSW): Largely superseded by the Water Management Act 2000 but some provisions still apply.
- Australian Constitution (1901): Section 100 of the Constitution outlines the States primacy over the Commonwealth in terms of laws and regulations affecting the use and conservation of water.
About the data
Data was supplied by Cootamundra Shire Council and the NSW Department of Water and Energy. Threshold salinity values of 800 µS/cm and 1,600 µS/cm were used for water quality assessment. They represent the maximum desirable water standard set by the World Health Organisation for human consumption (800 µS/cm) and a threshold at which adverse environmental changes can be expected (1,600 µS/cm) (NHMRC and ARMCANZ 1996).
Groundwater with less than 1,000 mg of salt per litre is also considered good quality and suitable for drinking water and most uses; groundwater with 1,000–3,000 mg of salt per litre is considered fair to poor and suitable for livestock, some domestic and limited industrial uses (DLWC 1999).
mg/L = milligrams per litre
References
Australian Water Resources (2000) National Land and Water Audit
Beale G, Miller M, Barnett P, Summerell G, Gilmore R and Hoey D (2004) NSW Coastal Salinity Audit, Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney, online at http://www.dnr.nsw.gov.au/salinity/science/pdf/coastal_audit1.pdf.
Department of Land and Water Conservation (NSW) (1999) Groundwater Quality Protection Policy, Department of land and Water Conservation, Sydney, on line at http://www.dnr.nsw.gov.au/water/pdf/nsw_state_groundwater_quality_policy.pdf.
Department of Land and Water Conservation (NSW) (2001) Groundwater Vulnerability Map and Explanatory Notes, Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney, on line at http://www.dnr.nsw.gov.au/water/pdf/lachlan_vulnerability_map.pdf.
Department of Primary Industries (NSW (1998) Geological Map of New South Wales (1:250000 scale)
Department of Water and Energy (NSW (2006) 2005/06 Water Supply and Sewage Benchmarking Report on line http://www.deus.nsw.gov.au/Publications/dwe_nsw_water_supply_and_sewerage_benchmarking
_report_2005-06.pdf
Department of Water and Energy (NSW (2008) – Bore Location Information supplied in GIS format.
Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (NSW) (2007) LCMA Action Plan online at http://www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au/download.cfm?DownloadFile=7EB15DBE-1708-51EB-A650C89A75C8331A
NHMRC and ARMCANZ (1996) Australian Drinking Water Standards, National Health and Medical Research Council & Agricultural Resources Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.
State Water Corporation (NSW) (2008) Water Management Charges for Licensed Water Users on line http://www.statewater.com.au/watdel/water_mgt_charges_for_licensed_water_20080124.pdf
