Groundwater refers to all the water below the Earth's surface held in the saturated pore spaces in soil and fractures in rock. It is an integral component of the hydrological (water) cycle, in which water is constantly moving between the oceans, atmosphere and land areas.
The principal source of groundwater is precipitation (for example rainfall, snow and hail). Other minor contributions come from small amounts of water present in rock materials when they were formed or deposited.
Tasmania has an extensive groundwater resource trapped by igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and in unconsolidated sedimentary rocks. The resource is widespread, but not evenly distributed, and the quality and yield is highly variable, depending on the aquifer and location.
Tasmania's total sustainable groundwater yield is estimated at between 0.5 and 2.5 million megalitres a year.
Tasmania's groundwater resources are tapped by at least 8000 known bores and wells. These supply water for irrigation, town use, domestic use, stock and mining. Not all of these bores have been successful upon construction nor are all bores operational. The operating status can also change, MRT keeps records of the operational status at the time of drilling and for any subsequent visits during detailed groundwater studies.
GROUNDWATER
