The “ABCs of Groundwater” is an introductory course being offered by the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board to give residents a basic understanding of the groundwater cycle.

EPNRM water resources program manager Jonathan Clark said the course would be ideal for earthmoving contractors, landholders, water licensees, science teachers and students and anyone with an interest in learning about groundwater.

“More than 85 per cent of Eyre Peninsula’s water comes from groundwater sources, so it’s a resource that’s important to everyone whether you live in a town or on the land,” Mr Clark said.

“The course will feature one of the State’s leading hydrologists, Doctor Adrian Werner from the Centre for Groundwater Studies at Flinders University, so this really is a good opportunity to learn about groundwater at a time when the future of our water resources is a topic of great public interest.”

Dr Werner said he would give participants an overview of what groundwater is, how rain “recharges” the groundwater, how it is stored, how it moves underground and how it interacts with seawater.

“Eyre Peninsula is a somewhat unique environment for groundwater because even though the region generally has low rainfall, the rate of recharge is relatively high because of the prevalence of karst limestone, which is very porous, so rainwater can move quickly through it into the aquifers,” Dr Werner said.

“Groundwater in an aquifer can be many hundreds or thousands of years old, which can be the reason why some groundwater is very hard.”

The ABCs of Groundwater will also cover interpretation of monitoring data, water quality, sustainable use of groundwater and how groundwater reacts with surface water and with seawater.

The course will be held at the Ravendale Community Sports Centre at 1pm to 5pm on Thursday, May 22.

It includes afternoon tea and a comprehensive groundwater booklet.

RSVP to Jackie Green by Tuesday, May 20 on 8682 7555 as positions are limited.