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Sharing local and ‘balanda’ knowledge on how water moves through the unsaturated zone and transpires via the vegetation.
Demonstrating the impacts of groundwater pump on a groundwater system.
ARC linkage project - cross cultural management of freshwater on resource constrained islands
This industry focused, interdisciplinary research project aims to develop a methodology for community-led adaptive water management on resource constrained islands. It involves Indigenous communities in the development of predictive numerical groundwater models. The numerical groundwater flow model of Milingimbi Island, NT will be used to make informed management decisions on how to ensure adequate water supply to the community.
Project partners include Auckland University, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Charles Darwin Uni, Flinders Uni and Power and Water Corporation.
Unlocking groundwater for the poor (UpGro)
This collaborative inter-disciplinary research project brings together physical and social sciences, and engineering to provide a step change in scientific understanding of groundwater service functionality and the human behaviours and arrangements that shape this in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi.
Project partners include Addis Ababa Uni, British Geological Survey, Cambridge Uni, Flinders Uni, Makerere University, Richard Carter & Associates, University Malawi, University of Sheffield and WaterAid.
G-FLOWS Project
The Goyder Institute for Water Research’s Finding Long-term Outback Water Solutions (G-FLOWS) research projects developed new techniques to interpret airborne geophysical electromagnetic (AEM) data to identify groundwater resources buried by deep sediments, which is a constraint to identifying water sources in the northern parts of SA which also impedes mineral discovery. The suite of projects started with Stage 1 in 2011 with investigations focused in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and then moved to Eyre Peninsula area in Stage 2.
Project partners include CSIRO, Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources, Goyder Institute, Flinders University, Geological Survey SA.
Where’s the Water Gone?
New research has commenced at Thirlmere Lakes, south-west of Sydney where groundwater and evaporation losses could play an important role. The study will consider the effects of variable climate, groundwater extraction and mining activity, and will attempt to understand how water moves at the surface and within the groundwater systems of the area. Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell announced that the NSW state government will invest $1.9 million into the research program at Thirlmere Lakes.
Scientific experts from the University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong and Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation will investigate the sensitivity of the wetland systems to external influences over the next four years. The five research themes being addressed in this program are:
- Geological mapping and geophysical surveys of the Thirlmere Lakes Area (UNSW Lead Researcher Dr Wendy Timms)
- Environmental isotopes investigations into periodic and recent water losses from Thirlmere Lakes (ANSTO Lead Researcher Dr Dioni Cendon)
- Thirlmere Lakes: the geomorphology, sub-surface characteristics and long-term perspectives on lake-filling and drying (UoW Lead Researcher Dr Tim Cohen)
- Surface Water – Groundwater Interaction (UNSW Lead Researcher A/Prof Martin Andersen)
- Developing an Integrated Water Balance Budget for Thirlmere Lakes to Provide a Detailed Understanding of Hydrological Dynamics (UNSW Lead Researcher Associate Professor Will Glamore).
Picture above: PhD student Tim McMillan discusses the geological setting of Thirlmere lakes with structural geologist Titus Murray. (Photo: W Timms)
Above and Below: Understanding River-Groundwater Exchanges
Field data, new technologies, numerical modelling, and geostatistical methods can be combined to improve understanding of the interactions between surface water and groundwater.
Contemporary hydrology is concerned with pressing problems that often involve the interactions between rivers and groundwater. A review article recently published in Reviews of Geophysics explored scientific advances in observing, quantifying, measuring, and predicting the characteristics and processes that occur at the interface between surface water and groundwater. The editors asked the authors to explain some of the field-based and theoretical methods being used, and describe some of the challenges for research in this area.
University of WA engages in project with both state government and water industry to expand groundwater modelling capabilities and conduct innovative research
Groundwater modelling is a well-accepted method of integrating multiple groundwater data sources to inform resource management and asset investment decisions. The Water Corporation commonly utilises groundwater models to support and inform the regulatory process associated with groundwater abstraction, wastewater disposal and managed aquifer recharge. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) of Western Australia uses groundwater models primarily to inform water supply and allocation planning decisions. Of particular note is the Perth Regional Aquifer Modelling platform (PRAMS) – a joint effort between the DWER and the Water Corporation – that simulates the Gnangara and Jandakot groundwater systems; key sources for the Perth Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS), though the model domain extends as far north as Moora and south to Ravenswood.
Hidden depths: why groundwater is our most important water source
Vivid scenes of worried Cape Town residents clutching empty water vessels in long snaking queues are ricocheting around the globe. The importance of effective water management has been shoved, blinking, into the limelight.
In Australia we’re watching somewhat nervously, grateful to have been spared the same fate – for now, at least. Experts tell us that the key is “water divestment” – that is, don’t put all your eggs in one basket (or, perhaps more appropriately, don’t get all your water from the same tap).
“Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice”
The guest editorial, “Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice” in the January/ February issue of Groundwater was written by our researcher Dylan Irvine. His editorial encourages researchers to include software tools (spreadsheets or scripts) generated in the research process with their papers to help readers apply complex new methods. Dr Irvine suggests that while the time spent to create user friendly software can be time consuming, that it is time very well spent if it results in the more widespread uptake of new methods.
Artificial sweeteners track wastewater pathway
We often 'flush it and forget it' when it comes to waste from toilets and sinks. However, it's important to be able to track this wastewater to ensure it doesn't end up in unwanted places. Tracing where this water ends up is hard to measure: What's something found in all wastewater that will allow us to account for all of it? The answer, of all things, is artificial sweeteners.
NT fracking inquiry's key environmental findings questioned by scientists
One of Australia's top legacy mines researchers has questioned the scientific accuracy of some of the Northern Territory fracking inquiry's key environmental findings. Key points:
- RMIT scientist says inquiry's finding of low risks of well leakage "too optimistic"
- CSIRO backs most of inquiry's findings
- AFANT calls on Government to consider PFAS lessons for fracking
UPCOMING TRAINING
Australian Groundwater Schools
Adelaide: April 16-20 2018 (extra day field trip)
Melbourne: August 20-23 2018
Brisbane: November 5-8 2018
Stay posted for more training course coming in 2018!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Smart Water Summit 2018 | 22-23 March | Adelaide Details
Ozwater'18 | 8-10 May | Brisbane Details
Darcy Lecture Professor Masaki Hayashi | Various dates| Sydney | Melbourne | Adelaide
Australian Geoscience Council Convention (AGCC) | 14-18 October |Adelaide Details
