Drastic changes in salinity levels and water flows are being reported at farms neighbouring South32’s Worsley bauxite mine in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
In recent years, some properties have gone dry, while others have had rapid rises in groundwater levels, causing waterlogging and degradation of land.<\/p>\n
Some residents attribute the hydrological changes to South32’s nearby mining operations.<\/p>\n
Russell Reynolds’s farming property sits between the Mount Saddleback mining area and the Hotham River, near Boddington, 130 kilometres south of Perth.<\/p>\n
He said his spring-fed dam was almost undrinkable because of rising salinity.<\/p>\n
Mr Reynolds also claims a surface stream that once ran each winter has been dry now for two years.<\/p>\n
“It’s a bit disappointing, because they’ve made no effort whatsoever about controlling water flow so we still get enough water,” Mr Reynolds said.<\/p>\n
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) confirmed it was currently investigating Mr Reynolds’s claims.<\/p>\n
“DWER has kept Mr Reynolds informed throughout the investigation, which may take several months to complete due to its hydrogeological complexity,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
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South32 has approval to take 900 million litres of groundwater a year, most of which is used for dust suppression. (ABC South West: Jon Daly)<\/p>\n
Miner draws millions of litres<\/p>\n
In February this year, South32 received state and federal approval to increase its groundwater use from 500 million litres to 900 million litres a year, primarily for dust suppression on haulage roads.<\/p>\n
“It’ll only get worse,” Mr Reynolds said.<\/p>\n
“If you haven’t got enough water to mine that size area, you shouldn’t be allowed to mine that size area.”<\/p>\n
Mr Reynolds blames his water issues on a series of major production bores, known as the Tunnell Road borefield.<\/p>\n
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Russell Reynolds says the seasonal surface water stream on his property has run dry for two years. (ABC South West: Jon Daly)<\/p>\n
The borefield draws water from an underground stream that runs through the Saddleback Timber Reserve and onto Mr Reynolds’s property, filling his dams.<\/p>\n
In 1996, the borefield supplied 85 per cent of water for the mine<\/a>, with an average of 465,000 litres of water being extracted every day.<\/p>\n From December last year to June this year, South32 drew an average of 665,000 litres per day from Tunnell Road bores, with eight trigger-level exceedences, according to a recent compliance report<\/a>.<\/p>\n The report noted dryer-than-average rainfall contributed to higher monthly water demand, but overall water usage from the borefield remained below recommended yield.<\/p>\n “Basically, they’re taking it before it can get to the property,” Mr Reynolds said.<\/p>\n “To me, that bore system should be restricted.”<\/p>\n Russell Reynolds says the water issues on his farm constitute a breach of South32’s environmental approval conditions. (ABC South West: Jon Daly)<\/p>\n Rising salinity levels<\/p>\n He said the reduced groundwater flow was also to blame for a 500 per cent increase in salinity levels of his spring-fed dam.<\/p>\n He claims the dam’s total dissolved solids (TDS) level jumped from 180 milligrams per litre (mg\/L) in 2014 to 1,100mg\/L in 2025.<\/p>\n However, the ABC was unable to verify the original 2014 test results.<\/p>\n Anything above 1,200 mg\/L is considered unacceptable for drinking, according to national drinking water guidelines.<\/p>\n Russell Reynolds said the regulator needed to step up and hold the mining company to account. (ABC South West: Jon Daly)<\/p>\n In 2020, South32 commissioned a report on ground and surface water<\/a> as part of the expansion proposal approved earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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