The South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is proposing to establish a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) for parts of western Adelaide’s Beverley and surrounding suburbs due to contamination from past industrial activities.
Director of Policy, Assessment and Finance for the EPA, Kathryn Bellette said the area covered portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny, Findon and Seaton.
Ms Bellette said the EPA established GPAs to prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater to protect public health.
“The most recent EPA assessments have shown that groundwater in the upper three aquifers in the area is contaminated with a range of chemicals above drinking water guidelines,” she said.
“The contaminated water is moving slowly westwards and a buffer zone for the proposed GPA takes this into consideration.”
Ms Bellette said that before establishing the GPA, the EPA would undertake a 90-day consultation period and wanted to hear from residents and bore users.
“The proposed GPA will now prohibit the taking of water from bores to a depth of 45 metres for any purpose in the whole of the area shown on the map, which includes a buffer zone,” she said.
She said soil, mains water and rainwater were not affected.
“Home-grown vegetables are safe to consume provided they are not being watered by water from bores to a depth of 45 metres,” she said.
The EPA has been conducting assessments in these areas since 2015.
Further information, including a timeline of activity, is available at this PS News link.
