Inland Waters
Page 182
Table 35: Groundwater resources and usage in the region
Aquifer
Salinity
Range
(Mg/L)
Sustainable
yield
(GL/yr)
Volume
extracted
(GL/yr)
%
Sust.
Yield
extracted
Known use
Adelaide Plains subregion - Northern Adelaide Plains
Quaternary.
sed
<1000
-
>7000
n.a.
0.3
n.a.
Environmental,
irrigation
T1
500-2500
3.8
3.0
79
Irrigation,
industry in PAE
area
T2
<1000-
>3000
12.9
9.1
71
Irrigation
Fractured
rock
<1000-
>3000
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Adelaide Plains subregion - Central Adelaide
Quaternary.
sed
<1000
-
>7000
n.a.
0.3
3
n.a.
Environmental,
irrigation
T1
500->3000
n.a.
8.2
4
n.a.
Irrigation,
industrial
T2
<1000
-
>7000
(source: AMLRNRMB, 2008).
Central Adelaide Groundwater Area
The Central Adelaide Groundwater Area is divided geologically into the Golden
Grove Embayment and the Adelaide Plains Sub-basin, most of the Port
Adelaide Enfield Council area falls within the Adelaide Plains Sub-basin. The
Adelaide Plains Sub-basin extends from the Para Fault in the south and east to
beyond the northern limit of the Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Well Area
see figure 41 on (page 186).
Resources in the Central Adelaide Groundwater Area (CAGA) are under stress
due to the historic over-allocation of water. To protect this valuable resource,
the State Government announced on 7
th
June 2007 its intention to 'prescribe'
the region's underground water resources. A 'prescribed' water resource is
defined by the State Government as a resource that can not be utilised by the
irrigation, industrial and commercial sector (excluding domestic use) unless an
application for a water licence has been applied for.
In coastal margins, thin unconfined aquifers or perched watertable aquifers can
occur within the Semaphore Sands. The aquifers can be in direct connection
with the sea and consequently at risk of seawater intrusion.
The largest groundwater users in the metropolitan region in recent history have
been industrial users, local government and schools for irrigation of reserves
and sporting grounds, and by golf clubs in the western suburbs. Within Port
