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List of Figures
Framework for using the Handbook ........................................................................................................ i
Figure 1.0 LGAs included in the Sydney Coastal Councils Group........................................................ 3
Figure 2.0 The water profile (source: Driscoll 1986, Domenico and Schwartz 1990) ........................... 7
Figure 2.1 The water cycle (source: NSW Government, 1998) ............................................................ 9
Figure 2.2 Defining attributes of an unconfined aquifer ...................................................................... 10
Figure 2.3 Defining attributes of a confined aquifer ............................................................................ 11
Figure 2.4 Comparison between perched, unconfined and confined aquifers.................................... 12
Figure 2.5 Explanation of hydraulic gradient ....................................................................................... 12
Figure 2.6 Comparison of porosity and permeability........................................................................... 13
Figure 2.7 Simplified geological map of the SCCG region.................................................................. 17
Figure 2.8 Perched groundwater systems in sandstone areas ........................................................... 19
Figure 3.0 Typical construction of a spearpoint installation ................................................................ 25
Figure 3.1 Typical construction of an irrigation bore ........................................................................... 26
Figure 4.0 Legislation relevant to managing groundwater resources in NSW .................................... 37
Figure 4.1 NSW groundwater policy framework.................................................................................. 43
Figure 5.0 Schematic illustration of water table conditions during dewatering from a permeable sand
bed aquifer ................................................................................................................................... 54
Figure 5.1 Schematic illustration of water table conditions during dewatering with reinjection and
engineering controls placed in a permeable sand bed aquifer.................................................... 62
Figure 6.0 Schematic illustration of groundwater resource management components ...................... 84
Figure 8.0 Rapid assessment methodology for identifying and valuing GDEs ................................. 117
Figure 9.0 Screening assessment framework ................................................................................... 122
Figure 9.1 Data assessment framework............................................................................................ 124
Figure 9.2 Schematic framework of data collation into the LAS and GDS databases...................... 129
Figure 9.3 Typical work summary report downloaded from CANRI Natural Resource Atlas website133
List of Tables
Table 2.1 Major, secondary and minor aquifers in member Council areas......................................... 15
Table 3.0 Licensee and drillers obligations when installing a groundwater work............................... 27
Table 7.0 Approximate salinity levels based on descriptive terms and ranges reported to DNR. ...... 91
Table 7.1 Contaminants in groundwater derived from various sources common to urban environments
..................................................................................................................................................... 96
Table 7.2 Common contaminants in greywater................................................................................. 100
Table 8.0 SCCG member Council listings under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999. ............................................................................................................. 114
Table 8.1 SCCG member Council listings under the Fisheries Management Act 1995 and the
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. ............................................................................ 115
Table 9.0 Groundwater availability salinity classification. ................................................................. 134
Table 9.1 Indicative groundwater vulnerability classification for aquifers of the SCCG region......... 138
Table 9.2 Assessment requirements based on groundwater vulnerability classification for the
Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment............................................................................................... 142

Groundwater Management Handbook September 2006 First Edition