Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:2:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 3/3)
Character Range: 2022476–2024420

on the basis of its environmental values and the risk that the current (or realistic future) use may pose to human health and/or the environment. With regard to realistic future uses, consideration should be given to the quality and yield of the aquifer, the likely demand for water resources in the vicinity of the site, and technological practicalities.

The assessment process for groundwater contamination differs from that for land contamination in that there is greater emphasis on suitability for current and realistic future uses, compared with the emphasis on current and intended uses with soil assessment. The focus on the protection of environmental values and realistic future uses (based on the inherent capacity of the aquifer to support those uses) is derived from the following considerations:
    * groundwater contamination may be persistent and difficult to contain or to remediate within a short timeframe
    * some groundwater contamination may persist beyond current planning horizons, affecting future uses that today are not considered likely
    * the stress on Australia's water resources is expected to increase, highlighting the importance of protecting groundwater resources for the future.
With soil assessment, land use and the level of contact between the most sensitive human or ecological receptor and the contaminated soil primarily determine the level of protection required. In the case of groundwater, consideration may include a combination of several different exposure scenarios and multiple potential receptors, for example, groundwater may be used for irrigation purposes, pass beneath a freshwater lake and then go on to discharge into the marine environment. Potential receptors will differ in each scenario and acceptable contaminant levels may well be different for each receptor. An assessment of groundwater contamination should consider the sensitivity of receptors in each exposure scenario.