The Wire

An environmental scientist has today warned that Australia’s groundwater reserves are facing an increased risk of contamination from industrial pollutants. Dr. Grant Hose from the University of Technology, Sydney, says that chemical spills and seepage from contaminated industrial sites often end up in groundwater – a major cause for concern given the growing use of groundwater in this time of drought. The warning comes as the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, announced a $52 million plan to research the future use of groundwater supplies. The Wire has this report.