Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
PARTNERS
PRINCIPAL
PLATINUM
GOLD
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
PARTNERS
SILVER
BRONZE
• The Australian National University
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• Department of Primary Industries, Vic
• Earth Science Western Australia
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• Pitney Bowes Business Insight
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• PowerWorks
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• Queensland Resources Council
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• Rob Kirk Consultants
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Tasmania
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Anglo Coal
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation
CS Energy
Department of Sustainability and Environment, Vic
Essential Petroleum
Flinders University
Gordon Wakelin King
Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee
Hot Dry Rocks
Macquarie University
Sandy Menpes
Monash Energy
Museum Victoria
Our Water Our Future, Vic
Petroleum Geo-Services
Primary Industries and Resources SA
Stanwell Corporation
Velseis
ZeroGen
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Wet Rocks –
Learning about Groundwater
The Botany Bay Sands Aquifer
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
The Botany Sands Aquifer
• This presentation provides:
– Information on the Botany Sands aquifer as a source of water
for early settlers
– The contamination of the aquifer by industry and the
subsequent management response
– Potential opportunities for use of the aquifer through
managed aquifer recharge
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
The Botany Sands Aquifer
Area
Total Water Allocated
Total Water Used
Average Salinity
Sustainable Yield
Depth to top of aquifer
141km2
5,859 ML/yr
no data
500 mg/L
22,500 ML/yr
3m
Source:
http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/managing_the_parklands_environment/understanding_the_
botany_aquifer
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
The Botany Sands Aquifer and
the environment
•
Ponds that are in
part supported by
groundwater:
Eastlakes,
Lachlan,
Golf Courses,
Race Course,
Mill Pond
Source: managed-aquifer-recharge-botany-aquifer-Apendix-B-PUB-1006.pdf
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
As a water supply ….
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Aquifer contamination
What is DNAPL? Dense, non-aqueous phase liquid. That is a
liquid that is heavier than water and does not readily dissolve into water
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Aquifer contamination
Contaminants in
groundwater form
“plumes”.
Some of the
contamination stays in
the same form (phase)
as when it leaked into the
ground. Some of it will
dissolve into
groundwater, forming a
plume of different
concentrations outward
from the main source.
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
The main contaminants
What are Chlorinated Hydrocarbons?
Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) is a generic term given to chemical compounds
containing chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. The term can be used to describe
pesticides such as lindane and DDT, industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB), chlorine waste products such as dioxins and furans, and drycleaning products such as PCE.
How did CHCs contaminate the Botany Groundwater?
It is suspected that they came from:
The former Solvent Plant
The former EDC storage tanks
The former TCE Plant
The former CTC/PCE storage tanks
The former Open Heavy Ends Drums Storage Area
The former Effluent Treatment Plant Overflow Area
The former re-drumming areas adjacent to the Heavy Ends Drums Storage Area.
http://www.oricabotanytransformation.com/
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Aquifer contamination
Contaminants
impact
groundwater well
away from the site
of the spill.
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Groundwater Embargo Area
Approach to Contamination
Management
Management Zones
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Opportunities for the future – Managed Aquifer
Recharge
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Opportunities for the future – Managed Aquifer
Recharge
Capture stormwater or use
treated wastewater, and get
it into the aquifer through
bores or infiltration basins
Pump the water out either at
the point of injection or
further down the system
when needed
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Opportunities for the future – Managed Aquifer
Recharge
Centennial Lakes – what happens now, and the
opportunity for enhancing this system
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Opportunities for the future – Managed Aquifer
Recharge
Opportunity to increase
the amount of water in
the storage to increase
use, or provide
increased security of use
in dry periods.
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Summary
• The Botany Sands aquifer was a significant
source of water for Sydney in the 1800’s
• Contamination of the aquifer has had a
significant impact on the useability of the
aquifer
• Management of the contamination recognises
that it can’t all be cleaned up, and that
restrictions on use into the future are a part of
the overall management framework
• There is an opportunity, where the aquifer is
not affected by contamination, to use
Managed Aquifer Recharge to provide
additional water storage for use.
Teacher Earth Science Education Programme
Links to other topics
• Permeability and porosity
• Recharge
• Contamination – contaminant movement and
behaviour, remediation