Groundwater is one of Victoria’s most valuable natural resources. It supports drinking water supplies, agriculture, and aquatic ecosystems across Melbourne, Geelong, and regional Victoria. Yet contamination remains a significant and growing threat, particularly on former industrial, commercial, and agricultural sites where legacy activities have left lasting impacts on soil and water quality.
For property owners, developers, and businesses across Melbourne and Geelong, understanding the causes, consequences, and solutions to groundwater contamination is not just good practice but it is increasingly a regulatory and commercial necessity under Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017.
What Causes Groundwater Contamination?
Groundwater contamination occurs when pollutants seep through soil into underground water reserves. In Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs, Geelong’s former industrial precincts, and across regional Victoria, the most common causes include:
- Industrial Waste & Chemical Spills – Factories, refineries, and manufacturing plants have historically released hazardous substances including heavy metals, solvents, and petroleum products into the soil. Sites in Melbourne’s west and north, and Geelong’s former industrial waterfront, are particularly associated with legacy contamination of this type.
- Agricultural Runoff – Fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides used on farmland in peri-urban Melbourne and Geelong’s growth corridors can leach into groundwater, causing nitrate contamination and ecosystem disruption.
- Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) – Petroleum stations and fuel distribution sites across Victoria have left thousands of underground tanks that can corrode over time, releasing hydrocarbons such as TRH and BTEX compounds into the surrounding soil and water table.
- Sewage & Wastewater Discharge – Poorly managed septic systems and wastewater failures — particularly in older properties on Melbourne’s urban fringe and in regional Victoria — can introduce bacteria, nitrates, and pharmaceuticals into groundwater supplies.
Consequences of Groundwater Contamination
Contaminated groundwater can have serious health, financial, and environmental consequences for landowners and communities in Melbourne, Geelong, and across Victoria:
- Health Risks — Pollutants such as arsenic, lead, and nitrates are linked to serious health conditions including cancer, neurological disorders, and developmental impacts, particularly where contaminated groundwater intersects with drinking water sources.
- Economic & Property Impacts — Landowners and developers face significant costs related to remediation, planning delays, and loss of property value. In Victoria, contaminated sites can trigger EPA audit requirements that add time and expense to development projects.
- Environmental Damage — Contaminants migrating through groundwater can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, harm waterways including Port Phillip Bay’s catchment and the Barwon River, and degrade soil quality across agricultural and urban land.
Solutions for Preventing and Addressing Groundwater Contamination
- Groundwater Monitoring Programs — Routine monitoring through a network of bores allows early detection of contamination plumes before they migrate offsite. Terralis designs and manages groundwater monitoring programs for sites across Melbourne and Geelong in compliance with EPA Victoria requirements.
- Preliminary and Detailed Site Investigations — A PSI or DSI establishes the nature and extent of groundwater contamination, informing remediation planning and supporting planning permit applications across Victoria.
- Remediation — Depending on the contaminant and hydrogeological conditions, remediation options include excavation of impacted soils, in-situ bioremediation, groundwater pump-and-treat systems, and monitored natural attenuation. Terralis has delivered remediation programs at former service stations, industrial sites, and development sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Proper Waste & Storage Management — Ensuring hazardous materials are stored correctly and that underground tanks are decommissioned in accordance with EPA Victoria requirements minimises the risk of future contamination events.
How Terralis Can Help
Terralis Environmental provides specialist groundwater assessment, contamination investigation, and remediation services across Melbourne, Geelong, and regional Victoria. Whether you are managing a contaminated land issue, preparing for a planning application, or responding to an EPA notice, our team delivers practical, EPA-compliant outcomes tailored to your site.
Contact us on 0425 741 022, contact us or visit terralis.com.au to discuss your groundwater or contaminated land requirements.