8 Feb 2023 EPA South Australia
Extension of northern Adelaide groundwater prohibition
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will extend an existing groundwater prohibition area (GPA) at Edinburgh to parts of Waterloo Corner, Bolivar and St Kilda.
The EPA has completed a three-month community engagement process and property owners and residents in the area have been informed of the decision.
The GPA, to be known as Edinburgh Stage 2, will come into effect on 23 February.
EPA Director Policy, Assessment and Finance Kathryn Bellette said establishing a GPA prohibited the use of groundwater but would also alert future landowners through a notice on certificates of title.
“It is necessary to prevent the exposure and spread of contaminated groundwater,” she said.
“The EPA has conducted a targeted community engagement program and the Department of Defence has also undertaken a water use survey to provide an understanding of whether landowners had bores and how they were using groundwater.”
The first stage of the Edinburgh GPA was established in February 2022 and includes the RAAF
Edinburgh precinct and parts of Edinburgh, Direk, Burton, Salisbury North, Penfield, Paralowie and Waterloo Corner.
It was created due to historic contamination by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and
covers an area from Edinburgh to Port Wakefield Rd at Burton.
Stage 2 covers an adjoining area from Port Wakefield Rd to the Barker Inlet – taking in parts of
Waterloo Corner, Bolivar and St Kilda – and prohibits the taking of groundwater to a depth of 20
metres. There are about 60 properties in the area.
Water from deeper aquifers is not included and rainwater and tap water are not affected.
Investigations by an independent site contamination auditor for Defence reviewed transport pathways and indicated that the PFAS in groundwater is expected to continue slowly migrating towards the coast.
Further information about the Stage 2 GPA is available at www.engage.epa.sa.gov.au/edinburgh
Information about Department of Defence investigations and PFAS management is available here.