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ANNEX F: TESTS FOR ASSESSING GROUNDWATER QUANTITATIVE STATUS
Test 1: Presence or absence of saline or other intrusions
Test 1 is common to the assessment of groundwater chemical status and groundwater quantitative status.
Trigger for applying test | Criteria for poor groundwater quantitative status |
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Failure of a threshold value indicative of a risk of saline intrusion; or Indications of a significant risk of other intrusions | (a) significant and sustained upward trend in electrical conductivity indicating saline intrusion; (b) significant or sustained upward trend in the concentration of indicators of the risk of other intrusions; or (c) evidence that abstractions have been rendered unsuitable for use without additional treatment as a result of an intrusion. |
Test 2: Presence or absence of adverse impacts on associated surface water bodies
Trigger for applying test | Criteria for poor groundwater quantitative status |
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A river flow standard for 'good' is failed in an associated surface body and there is reason to suspect that groundwater abstractions may be contributing to the failure | (a) an applicable river flow standard for 'good' is failed in an associated river water body and the reduction in river flow volume in the surface body concerned resulting solely from groundwater abstraction represents = 50 % of the value of the applicable river flow standard |
Test 3: Presence or absence of adverse impacts on groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems (wetlands)
Trigger for applying test | Criteria for poor groundwater quantitative status |
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Indications of significant damage to a wetland resulting from insufficient water availability where alterations to groundwater levels are suspected to be the major cause of the insufficient water availability | (a) there is evidence of significant damage to a wetland caused by insufficient water availability and the major reason for the insufficient water availability is judged to be alterations to groundwater levels resulting from human activities. |
Test 4: Presence or absence of long-term impacts on groundwater levels
Trigger for applying test | Criteria for poor groundwater quantitative status |
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Apply to all bodies where there are groundwater abstractions | (a) the annual average volume of water abstracted from the groundwater represents more than 20 % of the long-term annual volume of recharge (i.e. water that replenishes the groundwater) and there is evidence of a long-term drop in groundwater levels in the body of groundwater |
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