Groundwater
Groundwater makes up
approximately 17% of Australia's accessible water resources and accounts
for over 30% of our total water consumption. Yet this precious
resource is neither understood nor managed as well as it needs to be.
Groundwater and water reform
The National Water Initiative requires a number of issues associated with groundwater to be dealt with as key actions.
- Find out more about Groundwater and water reform
Groundwater-surface water connectivity
Although groundwater and surface water systems are often closely connected they are generally managed separately. Understanding the extent of groundwater-surface water connections is crucial for the sustainable management of both resources.
- Find out more about Groundwater-surface water connectivity
Sustainable management
As we increasingly tap groundwater reserves to supplement declining surface water supplies, we need to ensure that we do not harvest these resources faster than they are replenished.
- Find out more about sustainable management
Groundwater quality
Just like surface water, groundwater is vulnerable to contamination from a range of activities, including industry, agriculture and land use changes. Work is being undertaken to identify contamination threats, and to develop remediation options.
- Find out more about groundwater quality