ARWA Centre for EcohydrologySeeking to Understand and Manage Water

Acidification of wetlands, waterways, groundwater and agricultural drains is known to occur in the South West. The 2007 Western Australian State of Environment report has identified acidification of inland waters as an important environmental issue. Acidification may occur naturally in some seasonal wetlands, groundwaters and salt lakes, but most acidification in the environment has resulted from or been increased by human activities. Acidification of the environment can have a number of different causes such as acid sulfate soils and acid mine drainage. Some causes, such as acidic groundwaters in the wheatbelt, are not fully understood.

Research and other activities are being conducted at the Centre for Ecohydrology to manage the damaging impacts of environmental acidity. Some of these activities include:

Research into the origin and extent of inland acidic groundwaters so it can be better managed
The impacts of environmental acidity
The impacts of human activities on environmental acidity
Awareness raising and extension activities such as workshops, field days and the publication of materials
Development and adaptation of treatment systems from the mining industry to treat acidic waters
Research and development on techniques to rehabilitate areas degraded by acidification and salinity
Development of acid groundwater risks map and other decision support tools to assist land managers with the management of environmental acidity

Contact

Adam Lillicrap

Project sites and activities

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Soil Testing

Soil testing is conducted in the field to assess if acid sulfate sites are present at a location. The results are then used to guide if further laboratory testing is required and if management is required. Soil testing is also used to develop acid sulfate soil risk maps. A risk map is currently being developed for the Esperance area.

Acidification can cause significant impacts on the environment, agriculture and infrastructure with its associated economic costs. Some of the possible impacts of acidification are outlined below.

Environment

Ecological damage to aquatic and riparian environments
Death and disease in aquatic organisms such as fish
Flocculants resulting from acidification coating gills of aquatic organisms, smothering plants and benthic organisms destroying habitat

Environmental health

Contamination of water supplies by acid, metals and other substances;
Mosquitoes become more prevalent in acidic waters

Agriculture and fisheries

Loss of pasture and crop production

- Nutrients become less available to plants under acidic conditions
- Toxic substances such as aluminium become more available under acidic conditions
- Impacts on livestock
- - Loss of pasture
  - Stock consuming toxic substances such as aluminium through pasture or drinking acidic water
- Damage to estuarine fisheries and aquaculture activities
Infrastructure
- Corrosion of concrete and metals causing damage to building foundations, bridge supports, roads, dams, water pumps and underground pipes.

Grab sampling of water Automatic water quality monitoring

Measuring and sampling ground and surface water

The project is conducting water quality monitoring in waterways such as creeks, drains and wetlands in the South-West and South Coast. Some of the areas being monitored are the Peel-Harvey Inlet, Benger Swamp (in conjunction with DEC), Scott Coastal Plain, Western South Coast (Wilson Inlet/ Torbay) and Jerramungup.

The water quality monitoring can consist of grab samples taken either weekly, monthly or quarterly; or daily using automatic water samplers powered by solar panels.

Collected water samples are tested for nutrients, metals and major anions to gain a better understanding of catchment processes and the environmental impact of acidity.

Drilling to install underground monitors Drilling to install piezometers to measure groundwater depth and take groundwater samples as part of a research project assessing the impact of blue gum plantations of acid sulfate soils.

Environmental Acidity

Contact

Project sites and activities

Soil Testing

Measuring and sampling ground and surface water