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- Bore information - bore density
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Creation date
31-01-2018
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The bore density layer summarises the bore information from the National Groundwater Information System for display in the Australian Groundwater Explorer at a national scale.
Abstract
The bore density grid has been derived from the bores dataset in the National Groundwater Information System (NGIS). The grid was developed to allow bore data to be displayed at the national scale within the Australian Groundwater Inisght. As there are currently more than 870,000 bores in the NGIS, it is not practical to display them all at a national scale. Density has been calculated by aggregating the NGIS dataset on the basis of a 5x5km2 grid.
- Bore information - water levels
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Creation date
15-10-2024
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The water level layer shows the locations of bores in the Australian Groundwater Explorer for which water level data is available.
Abstract
The water level layer shows the locations of bores in the Australian Groundwater Explorer for which water level data is available. The water level data is collected by the Bureau under the water regulations (2008). Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
- Bore information - salinity
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Creation date
15-10-2024
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The salinity layer shows the locations of bores in the Australian Groundwater Explorer for which groundwater salinity data is available.
Abstract
The salinity data layer shows the locations of bores in the Australian Groundwater Explorer for which salinity data is available. The salinity is collected by the Bureau under the Water Regulations (2008). Data is available in for electrical conductivity (uS/cm) as supplied to the Bureau by the lead water agency in each state and territory. Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
- Hydrogeology - principal hydrogeology
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Creation date
1998
Custodian
Geoscience Australia.
Purpose
The principal hydrogeology map shows the principal aquifer groups across Australia.
Abstract
The principal aquifers of Australia from Geoscience Australia has been used to produce the hydrogeology map of the Australian continent. It is described in terms of principal aquifers, defined as those producing the best quality water at highest yield from shallowest depth. Aquifers are defined as porous or fissured, and subdivided in terms of their extent and productivity; these aspects are shown in solid colour on the map.
- Hydrogeology - water table salinity
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Creation date
2015
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The purpose of the water table salinity map is to show a broad classification of where the shallowest aquifer is fresh or saline.
Abstract
The water table salinity map is sourced from the Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric with the exception of east Queensland where the Bureau contoured the groundwater salinity from bore data available in the Australian Groundwater Explorer. The water table aquifer has been defined by the source datasets. Units are mg/L.
- Hydrogeology - aquifer boundaries
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Creation date
10-05-2020
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Delineation of the extents of the principal aquifers throughout Australia, and categorisation into upper, middle or lower aquifer groupings based on age and stratigraphic position (depth).
Abstract
The aquifer boundaries dataset depicts the major groundwater resources in Australia. This includes well known aquifers, including Great Artesian Basin, Murray Basin, Daly Basin and Perth Basin. Where possible they are attributed with their local name to allow users to identify known aquifers in an area of interest.
Aquifers are categorised as belonging to upper, middle or lower groups. This is based on the National Aquifer Framework, which groups aquifers by geological strata and age. The classification is indicative and designed to give only an indication of where complex layered aquifers occur.
The aquifer boundaries dataset is sourced from the National Groundwater Information System (NGIS). Input datasets are listed on the NGIS Copyright webpage. Detailed discussion of the methodology used is found in the Bureau's aquifer boundaries Bureau's aquifer boundaries paper.
- Groundwater entitlements - licensed groundwater entitlement
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Creation date
01-12-2015
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The licensed groundwater entitlements layer shows the location and size of licences to extract groundwater.
Abstract
The licensed groundwater entitlements layer shows the location and size of licences to extract groundwater. The data is collected by the Bureau under the Water Regulations (2008). The layer includes all purposes of groundwater extraction, however it is limited to what data is collected and supplied by the lead water agency in each state or territory.
Extractions for the purpose of mining are not present for all states and territories.
- Groundwater entitlements - stock and domestic bore density
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Creation date
19-6-2015
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Representation of the area density of stock and domestic bores across the Australian continent on a 5x5km grid.
Abstract
The stock and domestic bore density dataset has been derived to show the intensity of use of groundwater for stock and domestic purposes across the Australian continent. Bores are selected as those with a purpose of stock, domestic or water supply as designated in the National Groundwater Information System (NGIS). Density has been calculated by aggregating the NGIS dataset of stock and domestic bores on the basis of a 5x5km grid.
- Groundwater management areas
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Creation date
01-07-2024
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Groundwater management areas (GMA) show where groundwater is actively managed within Australia. It provides summary data on the volume of groundwater available for use as described by management plans, where applicable. Where available, groundwater extraction volumes are also shown.
Abstract
The Groundwater Management Area (GMA) layer is a collation of boundaries from each State and Territory. It is part of the National Groundwater Information System (NGIS). Input datasets are listed on the NGIS Copyright webpage.
The entitlement limit is the maximum combined volume of groundwater that can be issued as entitlement within a GMA. Not all areas have a limit, some manage by a different mechanism (e.g. groundwater level) while other do not have a published limit.
The entitlement on issue shows the combined volume of groundwater entitlement allocated in a water year within the GMA. This is reported to the Bureau by State water agencies under Category 6 of the Water Regulations (2008).
The 'unassigned water' is calculated as the percentage difference of the entitlement limit and current entitlement. It does not necessarily mean that any additional groundwater is available. The actual availability of new entitlements may depend on one or more of local management rules, impacts on the environment, surface water and other users.
Groundwater extraction shows the volume of groundwater entitlement extracted in a water year within the GMA. This is reported to the Bureau by State water agencies under Category 5f of the Water Regulations 2008.
The layer does not include information about the specific aquifers or depths managed by each area. The entitlement limit, entitlement on issue and extraction volumes are subject to constant change and as such are indicative only. For authoritative information please refer to the relevant State or local water agency.
- Murray-Darling Basin Areas
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Creation date
01-07-2024
Custodian
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Purpose
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Groundwater Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) resource units show the groundwater areas created under the Basin Plan. The SDL volume is the long term annual environmentally sustainable limit able to be taken from the resource.
Abstract
The SDL resource units are the boundaries of groundwater resources as defined in the Basin Plan. The SDL codes are a specific MDBA code for the resource.
The SDL volumes are defined in the Basin Plan. Accreditation of Water Resource Plans (WRPs) to enable the enforcement of SDLs was completed in 2024 with all 17 groundwater WRPs now operational.
Licensed extractions are from the MDBA's Transitional SDL water take reports. and Section 71 data delivered directly to the Bureau for the 2019–20 financial year.
- Groundwater level trend
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Creation date
13-11-2024
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Groundwater trend maps show the trend in the annual groundwater level recovery peak (the maximum level observed in the bore each year due to recharge and/or pressure recovery in the non-pumping season). This reveals how the groundwater level recovery peak is changing over the short, medium and long term. Examining both status and trend data together is a useful way to assess how groundwater levels are behaving in an aquifer.
Abstract
Trends are derived using groundwater level data from the Australian Groundwater Explorer. Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
Groundwater trend is calculated as the linear trend in the annual groundwater level recovery peak (the maximum level observed in the bore each year due to recharge and/or pressure recovery in the non-pumping season) for 5-, 10- and 20-year periods. These periods align with financial years. The period included for analysis is given in each map layer name, for example "2004-2024" refers to the twenty-year period 1st July 2004 through 30th June 2024.
Trends are classified as "Declining," "Stable" and "Rising." The threshold for a "Stable" trend is ±10cm/year. This value has been chosen to reflect the typical accuracy of groundwater level measurements including historical manual ones and is consistent with Bureau publications (Water in Australia, AWRA 2012, State of the Climate 2019). A negative trend is classified as "Declining" and a positive trend is termed "Rising."
Groundwater level trend is only calculated for bores that meet the minimum data requirements for the status analysis (refer to metadata for Groundwater level status). In addition, bores need to have data for at least 60% of years in the relevant trend period and data.
Detailed discussion of the method is found in the Bureau's groundwater trend and status discussion paper.
- Groundwater level status
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Creation date
13-11-2024
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Groundwater status is based on an analysis of the groundwater level recovery peak (the maximum level observed in the bore each year due to recharge and/or pressure recovery in the non-pumping season). The groundwater status maps show how groundwater levels at each bore have recovered during the recent year compared to other years in the historical record. Examining both status and trend data together is a useful way to assess how groundwater levels are behaving in an aquifer.
Abstract
Status is derived using groundwater level data from the Australian Groundwater Explorer. Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
Groundwater status maps show a decile ranking of the groundwater level recovery peak for the previous financial year for each bore, against each annual recovery peak in the historical record since 1997-98 in the upper, middle and lower aquifer layers.
Status is reported as either 'Below average', 'Average' or 'Above average':
- Bores with a 'Below average' status are those where the recent recovery peak level is less than the 30th percentile when compared to each annual recovery peak in the historical record since 1997-98.
- Bores with a recent recovery peak between the 30th and 70th percentiles are classified as 'Average.'
- Bores with a recent recovery peak at or above the 70th percentile are denoted 'Above average.'
Groundwater level trend is only calculated for bores that meet the minimum data requirements:
- Data for at least 60% of years in the period from 1997-98 to the financial year of interest, except for Tasmanian bores where readings are from 2008-09 as regular monitoring started much later in this State.
- Data for the financial year of interest.
Detailed discussion of the choice is found in the Bureau's groundwater trend and status discussion paper.
- Average salinity
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Creation date
15-02-2019
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
The average salinity map shows the average salinity in groundwater bores since 1995. The data is classed into beneficial use categories.
Abstract
Average salinity derived using groundwater salinity data from the Australian Groundwater Explorer. Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
The average salinity map shows the average salinity in groundwater bores since 1995. The period aligns with financial years. Bores with 2 or more salinity readings for the period are included in the data.
The bores are symbolised according to their beneficial use category, as described in the table below. Electrical conductivity (µS/cm) data has been converted to TDS (mg\L) using a conversion factor of 0.67.
Beneficial
useFresh to marginal,
<1000 mg/L TDSBrackish,
1000–3000 mg/L TDSSaline,
3000–35 000 mg/L TDSHyper saline,
> 35 000 mg/L TDSPotable Irrigation Industry - Salinity change
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Creation date
01-04-2018
Custodian
Bureau of Meteorology
Purpose
Salinity change shows how recent salinity readings in a bore compare to the average, and specifically where there has been appreciable change in groundwater salinity.
Abstract
Salinity change derived using groundwater salinity data from the Australian Groundwater Explorer. Sources of input data are explained on the Explorer Copyright webpage.
The salinity change map shows average salinity over a 5-year period compared to the average salinity since 1995. The 5-year period aligns with financial years and is listed in the map title.
The salinity change is labelled using the following criteria:
- 'decreased' if the 5-year average TDS value is at least 30% lower than the average salinity
- 'increased' if the 5-year average TDS value is at least 30% higher than the average salinity
- 'no change' if the 5-year average TDS value is within 30% of the average salinity.
