10.1 Groundwater inflow from outside region
The volumetric value for the line item for the 2010–11 year was 2,879 ML. The line item represents lateral flow of groundwater into the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) region from inland groundwater aquifers that extend outside the region. Lateral flow of groundwater from coastal aquifers is not included in this line item (included in line item 10.2).
The line item value represents the lateral inflow into the region from both Murray Limestone and Renmark Group aquifers along the boundary (see the following figure) near the Murray mouth. The value was estimated for sections of the MDB boundary that are not co-incident with the coastline. The value applies only to the Southern Basin.
Through flow boundaries at Murray Mouth considered for the lateral inflow into the MDB region
Regional groundwater flow across the MDB region boundary was considered important in aquifers underlying the MDB surface drainage outlet to the Southern Ocean and to and from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB).
The GAB aquifers underlying the north of the MDB region were not considered to be part of the region based on its definition. Therefore groundwater flow from the GAB was considered flow from outside the region. All the other boundaries were assumed as no flow boundaries.
Groundwater flow from the Northern Basin to the Southern Basin was also considered negligible. This was due to the fact that the segment boundary mainly represents a groundwater divide and it is mainly composed of fractured rocks with a local flow system and therefore negligible regional flow.
Regional groundwater flow across the MDB regional boundary was only considered to be significant in the area near the mouth of the River Murray in South Australia. Inflow from the Northern Basin to the Southern Basin was considered minor and could not be quantified. The boundary through which groundwater flow was estimated is highlighted in the figure provided under supporting information. Groundwater inflow was estimated for the unconfined aquifer (Murray Group Limestone and Parilla Sands) and confined aquifer (Renmark Group) that underlie this boundary.
Groundwater flow was calculated using a simple geographic information system (GIS) approach based on Darcy's Law. Groundwater levels were interpolated for seasons using the ArcGIS Topo-to-Raster tool from reduced groundwater levels measured at monitoring bores.
The Geofabric version 2.0 (Bureau of Meteorology 2011a) was used to estimate aquifer thickness. The hydraulic conductivity values were sourced from the Mallee Prescribed Wells Area – Murrayville Water Supply Protection Area Groundwater Model, Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia (Barnett and Osei-bonsu 2006). The transmissivity values were calculated by multiplying the aquifer thickness with the relevant hydraulic conductivity.
Seasonal groundwater flow-grids were derived from groundwater level grids, aquifer thickness and hydraulic conductivity using a modification of the ArcGIS Darcy Velocity tool. Groundwater flow across selected flow boundaries was then calculated using a simple GIS analysis and seasonal values were aggregated to the 2010–11 year.
Assumptions, Limitations, Caveats and Approximations
Regional flow estimations were provided for the Murray Group Limestone Aquifer, which was chosen to represent the unconfined aquifer and the Renmark Group Aquifer. These were considered to be the main aquifer systems that cross the boundary of the MDB region.
It was assumed that no major groundwater flow occurs between the SDL areas of Northern Basin and the Southern Basin. This was due to the groundwater flow within the fractured rocks (Lachlan Fold belt: Lachlan and Western, Kanmantoo Fold Belt, and Orange basalt) being local, therefore regional flow was negligible. In addition, most of the central–eastern boundary represents a no-flow boundary (groundwater divide). Regional groundwater inflow in the Western Porous Rocks is also small because it is a small area with low groundwater flow gradients (resulting from low groundwater recharge). It was assumed that groundwater outflow from the Upper Darling Alluvium was small due to the small outflow area. Interaction with the river would be the main recharge/discharge process in the area, with regional lateral outflow being a secondary process. Inflows and outflows for the Southern Basin were assumed to occur at or near the coast line only; all the other boundaries were assumed no-flow boundaries mostly representing a groundwater divide.
Groundwater levels in the unconfined aquifer were assumed to be 0 metres Australian Height Datum along the coastline.
Groundwater flow from the GAB to the MDB and groundwater abstraction from the GAB were not evaluated for the 2011 Account due to lack of data (although this vertical leakage is recognised to be important in some SDL areas).
It is possible that small differences occur between the University of Melbourne database and the DSE groundwater database (from which bore locations and groundwater level data in Victoria were sourced).
The uncertainty estimate was not quantified.
The uncertainty in the field-measured data (e.g. groundwater levels, hydraulic conductivity) was not specified and unknown and hence the impacts of such uncertainty on the calculated groundwater flow were not estimated.
The regional flow estimations were based on the interpolated groundwater level grids produced using ArcGIS Topo-to-Raster tool. Use of different interpolation methods may impact on the values of the groundwater level grids and, hence, the estimated regional flow. However, a comparison of this methodology was carried out using a simple groundwater flow model developed on MODFLOW model (United States Geological Survey 2011). The results from the two methodologies indicated a 6% to 7% difference.
Groundwater flow was estimated for a simplified boundary constructed from a series of line segments. Groundwater flow across this boundary was calculated using the method described above. The uncertainty surrounding this simplification was not analysed.
This line item corresponds to line items listed in the following table and reported in the 2010 Account. In the 2011 Account, the scope of the line item was changed that caused the 2009–10 year value to be restated. The changes and their respective values are detailed in the following table.
Northern Basin (ML)
Southern Basin (ML)
Whole region (ML)
|Line item names and values reported as at the 2009–10 year in the 2010 Account||15.1.1 Regional groundwater inflow||0||2,578||2,578|
|15.1.3 Other lumped groundwater inflow from outside region||10,400||0||10,400|
|Total value reported for the 2010 Account||10,400||2578||12,978|
|Changes in the value reported in the 2010 Account due to scope change||–10,400||0||–10,400|
|Value reported for the 2009–10 year in the 2011 Account||0||2,578||2,578|
Upward flow volumes from the GAB in the Lower Namoi Alluvium was available for the 2010 Account (line item 15.1.3 Other lumped groundwater inflow from outside region) but not for the 2011 Account. Therefore, when calculating the restated value for the comparative year, the volume reported for the 2010 Account was reduced to reflect the scope change.
In addition, the following change in the 2011 Account occurred, which did not cause the 2009–10 year value to be restated:
Improved data sets were made available after the publication of the 2010 Account. The value published in the 2010 Account was not restated as the difference was not material: the slight increase in the accuracy of the information was not likely to influence the decisions made by users of the National Water Account.