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Organic chemical contamination of groundwater in Australia - an overview to 1993

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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There are an estimated 7000 contaminated si tes in Australia that involve soil, rock and groundwater influenced by manufactured chemicals. Of the 7000, possibly 2000 petrol stations may have leaking facilities or spill effects. More than 183 (non-petrol station) sites in Australia have some probability of organic chemicals in adjacent groundwater. These represent 4% of the 5000 total contaminated sites, excluding petrol stations. The major groundwater impact at this stage of knowledge appears to be in Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia. Most investigations have been into hydrocarbon bulk storage and refining facilities, petrol stations, and gas works sites. Cattle dip sites, numbering in excess of 2000, have had little attention from a groundwater impact point of view. Documentation and knowledge of sites is very variable between states. It appears likely that not all sites have been found in urban or rural areas. Screening techniques using models are suggested to assist with non-point pesticide/herbicide problems of consequence. Remedial action has been limited to organically contaminated sites with only petroleum hydrocarbons, and gas works compounds being seriously attempted. Research and practice on bioremediation is to be encouraged.

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Field Value
Title Organic chemical contamination of groundwater in Australia - an overview to 1993
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/8663c453-a9f3-4ba0-ad5d-59559eb53e4c
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage Australia
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Organic chemical contamination of groundwater in Australia - an overview to 1993". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/organic-chemical-contamination-of-groundwater-in-australia-an-overview-to-1993