Beverley and Woodville South
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been assessing groundwater and soil vapour in Beverley and Woodville South for historically used chemicals including trichloroethene (TCE) since 2015. This area has a proud manufacturing history and past chemical handling practices have contaminated the groundwater and vapour in the soil.
The EPA has undertaken work on private properties and has tested indoor air in some homes for vapour contamination coming up through the soil. In a small number of homes the EPA has installed mitigation systems to reduce this vapour to very low levels, which are considered to be safe over a longContinue reading
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Assessment area being extended
Sampling of the extended monitoring well network was undertaken in June 2020. While the EPA has not yet received a final report, interim results indicate that the depth of the contamination has been limited to the upper two aquifers. How far the contamination has spread within those aquifers has still not been determined. An additional 10 monitoring wells will be installed and tested before the final report is provided, requiring an extension of the assessment area boundary (please see the interactive map).
Early results suggest that previously identified impacts in groundwater in the western portion of the assessment area may have been the result of a surface spill of TCE rather than groundwater migration away from the historical industrial source areas.
The soil vapour monitoring network will also be expanded and further assessment undertaken to refine the predictions for potential indoor air contamination from vapour. Completion of the vapour assessment may indicate indoor air testing will be required in the future.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the EPA is undertaking further vapour assessment in public areas only. In-home assessments have been paused at this time.
The EPA is available over the phone and by email at any time. In place of meetings in private homes, we can arrange to meet you in a café or public place that is COVID-accredited, or arrange a video meeting if you have this capability.
Please contact us either during our outside of business hours:
- Phone: (08) 8124 4216
- Email: engage.epa@sa.gov.au
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Home grown veggies safe, if bore water not in use
Soil is not generally contaminated by the groundwater below it, unless contaminated groundwater is used for irrigation. Soil contamination can be found at the site where the chemicals were tipped out or leaked. Home-grown vegetables are safe to eat, provided you are not watering them with bore water. Sites that were formerly industrial may have further contamination - please contact the EPA for more information if you are unsure about the history at your property.
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Community engagement
The EPA has staff available to talk with you about any aspect of the assessment process, or any other environmental concerns you might have.
We are available during and after business hours, and have a designated phone number and email that you can use to get in contact with us (please see below).
If you would like to catch up with us in person, in a community group, or in an online video conference, please let us know! We are contactable any time on:
Ph: (08) 8124 4216
Email: engage.epa@sa.gov.au
Your Language
Automatic translations are provided as a guide only. To speak with us using a live interpreter, please call the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450, and ask them to call us on 08 8757 9000.
