| Performance goal: Minimise the contamination risks to bore water. |
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| Description: Bore water is groundwater that has been accessed by drilling a bore into underground aquifers, and the water has then been pumped to the surface. Bore water usually has a higher mineral content than surface or rainwater. |
| For additional guidance on groundwater quality protection, please refer to the Guidelines for groundwater quality protection in Australia (2013). For additional guidance on bore construction, please refer to the Minimum construction requirements for water bores in Australia (2012). |
| Performance criteria: Contamination risks to bore water are controlled Best practice range: Nitrate (as nitrogen): 0–10mg/L Maximum acceptable level: Nitrate (as nitrogen): 25mg/L |
| Minimum requirements |
| Construct bores away from any likely contamination sources. |
| Ensure your bore is constructed by a licensed driller and follow the advice in the Minimum construction requirements for water bores in Australia ( 2012). At a minimum, the top of the bore needs to be sealed to ensure no contaminants go down it, and that it is also protected from surface water runoff ingress. |
| Best practice options |
| Prevent livestock access within 5–10 metres of bores using fencing. |
| Prevent contaminated drainage and wastewater from soaking into the soil near bores. |
| Always follow product label advice when applying pesticides. Immediately clean any pesticide spills in the vicinity of a bore. |
| Prevent nutrient leaching from nearby fields or potentially contaminated containment dams. |
