Barossa groundwater salinity sampling

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the Department for Environment and Water are currently offering free salinity testing of groundwater samples from bores across the Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA). This program builds on previous monitoring and will assist in understanding groundwater salinity trends across the Barossa PWRA.

• Samples are invited from all licensed wells. Sample bottles and labels can be collected from the Barossa Australia Office (located at The Barossa Cellar, 991 Stockwell Road, Vine Vale). Please return the labelled samples to the Barossa Australia Office. You are encouraged to collect samples at the end of March or early April so that salinity is assessed at the end of the irrigation season, before any significant autumn rainfall.

• Water licence holders who provide a labelled sample will receive the salinity test results by email (where an email address has been provided). Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing. It is important to include the well number (e.g. 6XXX-XXXXX) on the sample label. The salinity test results for current and previous samples can be found by searching for the well (unit) number in the Groundwater Data online database.

A regional snapshot of groundwater resource condition (water level and salinity) can be found online in the annual Groundwater Status Reports for the Barossa (and other parts of the State).

For further information on the groundwater sampling program, please contact the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board on 8841 3444 or by email: ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au