Research
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Research Projects
1) Multi-scale Hydrological Controls on Vegetation Communities in the Playa Lakes of South-western Australia Complex and dynamic interaction between the hydrological system and ecological system involves feedback mechanisms which vary spatially and temporally throughout catchments. Management for flood mitigation is generally based on hydrological predictions derived from conceptual models which have not incorporated microhydrological processes. By establishing scalar relationships, micro-hydrological controls critical to vegetation can be related to the macro-hydrological controls incorporated in models. Given the feed-back between hydrology and vegetation, a comprehensive understanding of this interaction and hydrological controls is critical for long-term predictions and subsequent management decisions for flood mitigation.
This research can be divided into four main components:
2) Novel In-situ Desalination of Low Quality Groundwater A novel system for in situ desalination (ISD) of brackish groundwater is being developed and tested in Australia. The ISD system uses reverse osmosis treatment redesigned to operate within a borehole with the entire treatment process powered by a single 1200watt submersible pump. The ISD system uniquely uses aquifer properties for effective operation, and by carrying out the RO treatment under ambient aquifer conditions reduces membrane fouling. Evaluation of the use of ISD suggest that with emplacement of multiple ISD units at ~ 1 unit per hectare, environmental impacts can be distributed and mitigated and the system is capable of providing a supply stream of high quality water up to a projected 25ML/a/ha. This potentially could support high-value agricultural development with efficient irrigation practices or provide drinking water for mediumsized communities. Participants: CGS, UWA, Crisalis International Pty. Ltd., Australian Groundwater Technologies, LWA 3) ARC Linkage Project LP0562238 Reactive, robust sensor networks for monitoring soil water dynamics Participants: CGS, UWA, Water Corporation, Curtin University, ARC 4) Investigation of Geochemical Modelling of Aquifer Processes during Aquifer Storage and Recovery of Potable Water: Jandakot Project Stage 3 Participants: CGS, Curtin University, Water Corporation, United Water, CSIRO, WA
Chemistry Centre 5) ARC Linkage Project LP0776887: Electrokinetic Enhanced Remediation of Subsurface Contaminant Source Areas using Nano-scale Zero Valent Iron and Potassium Permanganate The successful remediation of contaminated industrial sites is rarely achieved. In a recent survey conducted by the US Navy, 198 sites were evaluated where contaminant source clean-up had been attempted. Of the sites considered, successful remediation had only been achieved on one project, with the primary reason for failure being the difficulty in contacting contaminants within heterogeneous and low permeability soils. The central objective of this work is to develop a novel method of soil and groundwater remediation that is highly effective in heterogeneous and low permeability environments. This will be accomplished through the use of electrokinetics to induce uniform/rapid delivery of treatment fluids into contaminant source zones. Participants: CGS, UWA, Golder Associates, ARC 6) ARC Discovery Project DP0346115: The Influence of Fracture Network Topology on Fluid Flow in the Subsurface This project focuses on developing methods for the simulation of fluid flow in fractured rock aquifers. Given the large computational requirements involved in modelling discretely fractured rock masses, scaling approaches are required to allow for simulation at field scales. The sensitivity of the scaling to the parameters describing the fracture network will be investigated. It is anticipated that the scaled functional relationships will be quite network specific, and that the identification of the controls on the form of the scaling relationships will allow for the focusing of data acquisition to the most salient information, and will reduce the costs involved. Participants: CGS, UWA, ARC 7) Allocating Water and Maintaining Springs in the Great Artesian Basin This project aims to build the capacity of water management authorities and water users to set and manage the impacts resulting from water allocation from the western region of the GAB within sustainable limits. Overall Project Objectives: Participants: CGS, Australian Government Water Fund, Flinders University, NRETA
(NT), Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (SA), DEH (SA),
CSIRO 8) Southern Eyre Peninsula Hydrogeology Research Fellowship Groundwater is the principal water resource of the Eyre Peninsula, with some 10,000 ML being extracted annually to meet urban, agricultural and industrial water demands. The sustainable management of these resources is critical for the long-term development and prosperity of the Peninsulas population of about 55,000. Groundwater monitoring, investigation and management have occurred since the 1930s, and are now undertaken by the South Australian government through the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC), SA Water, and the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management Board (EPNRMB). The following key issues have been identified as areas of research for the proposed
Research Fellowship to conduct work on: Participants: CGS, SA Water, Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board
(EPNRM), DWLBC (SA), Flinders University 9) Improve the Knowledge of Groundwater Flow Mechanisms in Fractured Rock Aquifers in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Northern Adelaide Plains and Kangaroo Island The primary objective of the project is to improve decision-making on the allocation of groundwater resources in fractured rock aquifers (FRAs) by understanding the groundwater flow mechanisms occurring in these systems. Implementation of the project will consist of four key activities, each addressing areas
with significant knowledge gaps. These are as follows: Methods and technologies proposed in this project are considered innovative or nontraditional, as they have not previously been applied to investigations of processes occurring in fractured rock systems. As such, the approach adopted in this project intends to address many of these issues and knowledge gaps which have not previously been approached with such scientific rigor. Investigations will occur at representative sites throughout the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Participants: DWLBC, Flinders University, AGWF, Adelaide University, South
Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board, Mount Lofty
Ranges and Adelaide Natural Resource Management Board 10) Seismic Refraction Analysis for use in High Resolution Reflection Processing: Perth Basin, Western Australia. The groundwater sourced from the Perth basin is derived from three main aquifers. Knowledge of the hydraulic characteristics of these aquifers needs to be expanded in order to understand the interaction between these aquifers. Using high resolution 2D seismic data, the hydraulic properties and connectivity of the aquifers is to be investigated. In order to understand the connectivity of the aquifers a high resolution seismic survey is current being completed across the Pinjar Anticline. This data will be processed using the conventional methods of seismic reflection processing to produce a stacked section. Participants: CGS, Curtin University, Water Corporation 11) 3D seismic reflection survey design at the Beenyup Waste Water Treatment site, Western Australia The Beenyup Waste Water Treatment site is located in the suburb of Craigie, Western Australia and treats wastewater from the northern suburbs to the foothills. Inorganic and organic substances are removed from the water in the treatment process and the treated water is discharged into the ocean. However due to increased demand for water resources, the Government of Western Australia has set a target to recycle 20% of used water by 2012 (Water for life report, 2006). Managed Aquifer Recharge is a water recycling method which has been identified by the Water Corporation and is to be trialled at the Beenyup site over a three year period commencing in 2009 (Water Corporation, 2006). High quality treated water will be injected into the Leederville aquifer (Water for life report, 2006) at a depth of approximately 200m (Water Corporation, 2006) and its movement will be monitored. A high resolution 3-D seismic reflection survey will be used for a detailed characterisation of the Leederville Aquifer and surrounding formations by recovering a 3D cube of acoustic impedances below the Beenyup site and converting them into a detailed distribution of hydraulic properties. The results will be combined with drilling and VSP data acquired from a 3C cemented geophone string. The proposed research will involve carefully planning the 3D survey to account for fine lithological variations, and the examination of various core samples for use in forward models to predict the seismic response caused by the injection process. The results of the models will be used to aid in the interpretation of the 3D seismic data. Participants: CGS, Curtin University, Water Corporation
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