Bore/Ground Water

The Environment Protection Act 1993 requires property owners, occupiers, consultants and auditors to notify the EPA of site contamination that affects or threatens groundwater. This information is available to the public in the following ways:

If groundwater is affected by contamination and there is a likelihood that it may be used for domestic or irrigation purposes, the EPA has powers to establish a groundwater prohibition area to protect both future and current landholders. Under section 103S of the Environment Protection Act 1993, the EPA may prohibit or restrict the taking of groundwater if contamination exists and it may be harmful to human health or safety. 

The EPA established groundwater prohibition areas in Allenby Gardens–Flinders Park, Edwardstown and surrounding suburbs, and Glenelg East and surrounding suburbs after community consultation. Groundwater use to certain depths is prohibited to be used for any purpose and a maximum penalty of $8,000 applies. Councils and schools typically use much deeper groundwater from the Tertiary aquifer, which is not known to be affected by the contamination. The EPA will consider the establishment of a groundwater prohibition area at the conclusion of the assessment work.

The EPA may identify an investigation (assessment) area where information on site contamination identifies the need for risks to human health to be assessed across a large area. These are the current assessment areas being assessed by liable parties and by the EPA where the site has no liable party.

You can search the site contamination index for notifications and reports that relate to your suburb or town. Specific information on each of these sites can then be obtained from the EPA. This list is not exhaustive, and further information can sometimes be obtained by making an enquiry under the Public Register.

In addition to historical contamination assessment reports, the EPA has a wealth of monitoring data, technical publications, information sheets, guidelines and reports relating to its core activities of licensing environmental activities and enforcing standards that industries, companies and even individuals must meet.

Legislation requires the EPA to have a public register and to make information available for the public to inspect. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our website, you may be able to request documents via the Public Register Officer.

It depends – bore water can be safe to use provided it is regularly tested and testing confirms that it has no contaminant harmful to human health.

Testing bore water, especially from shallow aquifers (which are susceptible to industrial pollution), is required before drinking (including washing, food preparation, cooking, making ice or watering edible plants), bathing, filling a swimming pool, pumping through a sprinkler or topping up a rainwater tank.

Water sourced from deeper confined aquifers (50 metres or more) with intact casing and a well-head protected from contamination by surface run-off is generally of higher quality. Water-level gauging can inform you as to which aquifer you are using if you are unsure.

While private users aren’t legally required to do so, SA Health advises residents to test bore water regularly and ensure it is safe for its intended use.

For assistance interpreting your test results, and understanding whether they are above set criteria for which the water is being used, please phone the EPA on (08) 8204 2004.

If you are advised that your bore water is contaminated, please do not use it for any purpose.

You will also need to notify the EPA on tel: (08) 8204 2004 or email.

Preventing extraction of contaminated groundwater is necessary to protect human health and also to prevent the spread of contamination. If groundwater contamination is discovered, it is a legal requirement under the Environment Protection Act 1993 to notify the EPA. 

Notifying the EPA also enables residents, industry and government to protect current and future generations from contamination caused by historical industrial practices – and ensures responsible parties take action to clean up contaminated sites.

The EPA is required to place this notification on its public register. The responsible party (or the EPA) also advises the affected community if a risk to public health is confirmed. 

Future purchasers of land will be advised via the Form 1 letter that is provided at the time of sale, which advises that the EPA holds information on the property in relation to site contamination.

Download the bore water poster or flyer:

For more information on bore water in your area please contact (08) 8124 4216 or email.