Locating groundwater resources for Aboriginal Communities in remote and arid parts of South Australia

The aim of the research program, funded by the Geoscientists Without Borders?program, is to undertake geophysical surveys to locate groundwater resources for Aboriginal communities in remote and arid parts of South Australia. These communities currently rely on boreholes in deep-aquifers (> 50 m to the water table) within fractured rock for non-potable water supplies. Maintaining and developing existing groundwater supplies and identifying new resources are essential. In mid-2010 we will collect magnetotelluric (MT) data across an array of sites to image the three-dimensional (3D) electrical conductivity structure from the surface to a depth of 1 km or greater, and the anisotropy of electrical conductivity due to fracture alignment. Variability in conductivity both laterally, and with depth, will yield a better method of identifying groundwater resources to target boreholes, and hence reduce the number of dry wells. The research program will have three principal outcomes: 1. To determine optimal borehole locations for the Aboriginal communities to develop sustainable groundwater resources; 2. To better understand and make recommendations as to how MT instruments can be deployed to reduce the risk of drilling dry holes; and 3. To more fully understand how groundwater in fractured rock can be effectively imaged by electrical conductivity variability.