Upper Lachlan
Indicator: Groundwater
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What the results tell us for Upper Lachlan
Groundwater in the Upper Lachlan Shire is generally of moderate quality (DLWC 1999), with a steadily decreasing water table (DWE 2008). Groundwater in the district 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 an extremely variable geological environment. To the south east geology is older Palaeozoic sedimentary and igneous rock. To the north-east age varies from Palaeozoic to Tertiary sedimentary and igneous rock (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 Upper Lachlan Shire is less than 10 GL/yr compared with a natural recharge of more than 500 GL/yr (AWR 2000). This is considered a low level of extraction (extraction is 0 to 29% of recharge), and sustainable for the entire Shire.
Upper Lachlan Shire Council supplies 420 ML/yr of water to its customers (DWE 2006) of which 80 ML/yr is sourced from groundwater from four bores.
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 either $51.46 for non-monitored or $118.56 for monitored areas, plus a per megalitre access charge. As part of the Lachlan groundwater area, Upper Lachlan groundwater users are charged $2.10/ML access charge and $1.09/ML usage charge. Although base charges are consistent throughout the state, access and usage charges are higher than most other areas in the state (SWC 2008).
Groundwater quality
Groundwater salinity in the Upper Lachlan Shire ranges from moderate to low (DLWC 1999). Patchy areas of high salinity have been identified around the township of Dalton and 15km north-east of Crookwell. There is an identified risk of theses areas growing by approximately 100% by the year 2050 (AWR 2005).
Managing groundwater demand
Water conservation measures
In 2004, the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA) was established to guarantee the protection and sustainable development with in its area of administration, including impact on water quality and use. Upper Lachlan Shire is predominately within the boundaries of the LCMA. With regard to groundwater, the LCMA has the following water management targets in place (LCMA 2007) for the Upper Lachlan Shire:
- 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 Upper Lachlan 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 Upper Lachlan 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 (DLWC) (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.
DLWC (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 (DPI) (NSW (1998) Geological Map of New South Wales (1:250000 scale)
Department of Water and Energy (DWE) (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 (DWE) (NSW (2008) – Bore Location Information supplied in GIS format.
Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA) (NSW) (2007) LCMA Action Plan online at http://www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au/download.cfm?DownloadFile=7EB15DBE-1708-51EB-A650C89A75C8331A
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Agricultural Resources Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) (1996) Australian Drinking Water Standards, National Health and Medical Research Council and 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
Upper Lachlan Shire Council 2007 (NSW) (2007) Annual Report, online at http://upperlachlan.local-e.nsw.gov.au/files/5852/File/ULSCAnnualReport2006-2007.pdf
