Teacher Earth Science Education Programme PARTNERS

Teacher Earth Science Education Programme

Teacher Earth Science Education ProgrammePARTNERS

PRINCIPAL

PLATINUM

GOLD




BRONZE 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

SILVER• The Australian National University

• Department of Primary Industries, Vic

• Earth Science Western Australia

• Pitney Bowes Business Insight

• PowerWorks

• Queensland Resources Council

• Rob Kirk Consultants

• The University of Sydney

• The University of Tasmania



Wet Rocks – Learning about Groundwater

The Botany Bay Sands Aquifer


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


The Botany Sands Aquifer

Source: http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/managing_the_parklands_environment/understanding_the_botany_aquifer

Area 141km2

Total Water Allocated 5,859 ML/yrTotal Water Used no dataAverage Salinity 500 mg/LSustainable Yield 22,500 ML/yr

Depth to top of aquifer 3 m

Area 141km2

Total Water Allocated 5,859 ML/yrTotal Water Used no dataAverage Salinity 500 mg/LSustainable Yield 22,500 ML/yr

Depth to top of aquifer 3 m


The Botany Sands Aquifer and the environment

Source: managed-aquifer-recharge-botany-aquifer-Apendix-B-PUB-1006.pdf

• Ponds that are in part supported by groundwater:Eastlakes, Lachlan, Golf Courses, Race Course, Mill Pond


As a water supply ….


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


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.



The main contaminantsWhat 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 dry-cleaning products such as PCE.

How did CHCs contaminate the Botany Groundwater?It is suspected that they came from:

The former Solvent PlantThe former EDC storage tanksThe former TCE PlantThe former CTC/PCE storage tanksThe former Open Heavy Ends Drums Storage AreaThe former Effluent Treatment Plant Overflow AreaThe former re-drumming areas adjacent to the Heavy Ends Drums Storage Area.

http://www.oricabotanytransformation.com/


Contaminants impact groundwater well away from the site of the spill.



Groundwater Embargo Area

Management Zones

Approach to Contamination Management


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



Centennial Lakes – what happens now, and the opportunity for enhancing this system



Opportunity to increase the amount of water in the storage to increase use, or provide increased security of use in dry periods.


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.


Links to other topics

• Permeability and porosity• Recharge• Contamination – contaminant movement and

behaviour, remediation

Teacher Earth Science Education Programme PARTNERS

Documents

Transcript of Teacher Earth Science Education Programme PARTNERS