The Australian National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) defines groundwater very simply as water that is found below the earth’s surface. It is found in vast quantities filling the spaces between grains of soil or rock. Australia being geologically an old continent has groundwater reserves that are tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years old. The Great Artesian Basin in central Australia is the largest aquifer of its kind in the world, covering 22% of Australia, and containing water that is more than a million years old. In Australia the importance of groundwater is pronounced given that it is the driest inhabited continent on Earth and surface-water resources are limited over large areas. It does, however, possess vast reserves of groundwater. This nationally significant resource demands careful, long-term planning and management, informed by a sound understanding of the characteristics of each aquifer.

Key points:

• Water that is found below the earth’s surface is referred to as groundwater.
• Groundwater use is increasing and it is the main source of water for much of Australia’s dry interior.
• Recent research suggests that groundwater replenishment rates may be slower than previously assessed.
• Australian groundwater characteristics may not be typical of the global norm highlighting the need for research and management in order to secure long-term availability.
• The role of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training is to advance our understanding of Australia’s groundwater resources, and to train the next generation of groundwater researchers.