Hydrogeological Assessments
Understand how groundwater could affect your site
Groundwater can carry risk beyond the source
Groundwater can change soil behaviour, increase pressure on below-ground structures and carry contamination beyond its original source.
The assessment brings geology, hydrogeology, site history, monitoring data and groundwater quality information together. This creates a clearer picture of groundwater conditions and supports decisions about development, contamination management, monitoring, dewatering or further investigation.
Investigation Methods
Desktop Review
Available geology, hydrogeology, bore records, site history and environmental information are reviewed to establish the known groundwater setting and identify important data gaps.
Conceptual Model
A conceptual hydrogeological model brings together aquifers, groundwater levels, likely flow directions, recharge, discharge and possible connections to surface water or sensitive receptors.
Well Installation
Monitoring wells may be drilled and installed where direct groundwater information is required, allowing water levels and groundwater quality to be assessed consistently over time.
Level Monitoring
Manual readings or installed sensors can track groundwater depth and show how levels respond to rainfall, seasons, construction activity or changing site conditions.
Groundwater Sampling
Groundwater samples may be collected and analysed where water quality, contamination or migration pathways need to be understood as part of the assessment.
Data Interpretation
Field and laboratory results are interpreted together to assess groundwater behaviour, potential risks and whether additional monitoring, investigation or management is warranted.
Connected groundwater, drilling and environmental capability
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a systematic assessment of geology, groundwater occurrence, movement and quality, completed to understand how groundwater could affect a site, project, people or the environment.
It may be required where development as a condition of a planning permit, excavation, dewatering, contamination, waste activities or proposed works could affect groundwater, or where groundwater could create risk for the project.
Yes. Monitoring collects groundwater data over time. A hydrogeological assessment interprets that data with geology, site conditions and other evidence to answer a broader project or environmental question.
Yes. It can help determine whether groundwater has been affected, how contamination may be moving and whether nearby properties, surface water or other receptors could be exposed.
No. Existing records and monitoring data may sometimes be sufficient. New wells are recommended where direct site-specific information is needed to resolve important uncertainty.
Levels can be measured manually with a water-level dipper or recorded more frequently using installed sensors, depending on the required monitoring period, frequency and project risk.