Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:5:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 2037831–2040905

5                   Glossary
Ambient background means the condition of groundwater representative of the area surrounding the site not attributable to an identifiable point source(s). The impacts of widespread diffuse sources of groundwater contamination are included within 'ambient background'.
Aquifer is a rock or sediment in a geological formation, group of formations or part of a formation which is capable of being permeated permanently or intermittently and can thereby transmit water.
Background groundwater quality means the condition of groundwater in the vicinity of a site which is the sum of the ambient and natural background.
Bioavailability is a general term meaning the amount of a contaminant that is absorbed into the body following dermal contact, ingestion or inhalation.
Contaminated groundwater means groundwater that has contamination at such a level that the condition of groundwater is such that it is not suitable for the current or realistic future use or presents the likelihood of causing an unacceptable environmental or human health impact in the discharge environment.
Contamination means the condition of land or water where any chemical substance or waste has been added as a direct or indirect result of human activity at above background level and represents, or potentially represents, an adverse health or environmental impact.
Discharge area means an area in which there are upward components of hydraulic head in the aquifer. Groundwater flowing toward the land surface in a discharge area may escape as a spring, leading to a discharge, seep or base flow, or by evaporation and transpiration.
Environmental value is a value or use of the environment which is conducive to public benefit, welfare, safety or health and which requires protection from the effects of pollution, waste discharge and deposits.
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem means an ecosystem that is wholly or partially dependent on groundwater for ecosystem health. For groundwater risk assessment this may include surface water bodies such as wetlands and rivers with groundwater base flow, some estuarine and near-shore marine systems, as well as aquifer and cave ecosystems.
Groundwater investigation level (GIL) is the concentration of a groundwater parameter at which further investigation (point of extraction) or a response (point of use) is required. Includes Australian water quality guidelines/drinking water guidelines/guidelines for managing risk in recreational water criteria and site-specific derived criteria.
Groundwater means all waters occurring below the land surface.
Natural background means the condition of groundwater derived/originating from natural processes in the environment as close as possible to natural conditions, exclusive of specific anthropogenic activities or sources.
Point source means a source of contamination which comes from a contaminating activity at a particular site.
Receptor is the entity (organism, population, community, or set of ecological processes) that may be adversely affected by contact with, or exposure