Groundwater is water that lies within aquifers underneath the earth’s surface. Aquifers are layers of soil and rock that contain large amounts of water. As water seeps through the earth it makes its way to these aquifers. The levels of water in shallow aquifers can depend on how much rain there has been.
As Lake Pertobe is close to the coast, it sits 1-2m above the groundwater. Locally, groundwater is pumped from this aquifer, for use in water play areas, the reflection pond, Lake Pertobe’s irrigation system and watering of the nearby lawn tennis club. Ground water can be naturally salty at times, which limits its use for watering grass as salty water can damage plants.
Warrnambool sits within the Otway Basin and the South West Limestone Groundwater Management Area. Follow the links to learn more about groundwater in Victoria and how it is managed for use in agriculture and other water supplies.
Links (further information)
https://www.water.vic.gov.au/water-sources/groundwater
https://www.srw.com.au/water-and-storage/groundwater-and-bores/groundwater
Partnership Organisation
Southern Rural Water