1. Australia’ Aquifers

6. Water from its sandstone aquifers is effectively the sole source of water for the pastoral industry over much of this area, and is also an important source of water for a number of town water supplies, and for some mining enterprises.

8. The artesian nature of the aquifer, which causes water to flow to the surface without the need for pumping, makes it especially useful.

9. This factor has enabled the distribution of water through an extensive network of open channels (bore drains) for stock use over a wide area from a single bore.

10. Much of the water is quite hot, and this factor has led to the use of some of the water for use in public baths

11. Picture of an old type bore well operation, the men who drilled this holes opened the country to civilization

12. The efficient use of this water is very low, because of leaking bores and inefficient distribution through open drains to stock watering points. The proportion of the water which is not productively used is probably near 90%.

13. Modern capping of the bore wells is conserving water for the future

14. Coorabulka Station’s manager, Alistair Malone, says they’ve capped ten free-flowing bores on the property in the last few years and they have two to go. You can see rolls of black polythene pipe in the background.

15. Groundwater management is the responsibility of each State or Territory, but the groundwater system is continuous across State borders and there is a need for some commonality of approach. This is now being provided by the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council.