Power and Water Corporation (PWC) is seeking to extend hydrogeological investigations to augment the Engawala water supply network through a bore drilling program. The community of Engawala (also known as Alcoota) is located 24 km north of the Plenty Highway, 175 km north-east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory (NT). Water for community supply is drawn from a small borefield, consisting of four low-yielding bores of which only two bores can be run at any one time due to interference. The current bores target fractured zones within the gneissic and schistose rocks of the Proterozoic Arunta Basement, and the main source of recharge to the targeted aquifer system is from the local irregular rainfall.

Poor rainfall recharge events in recent years has meant the aquifer source has not recharged since 2016, and water levels in the borefield have declined to historically low levels. Without additional water source supply capacity there is a high probability that the community demand for water will exceed the current capacity to supply. Further to this, the condition of current bore assets have deteriorated, putting additional constraints on borefield operations.

The first stage drilling program in 2020 investigated new areas and located potential additional water sources [MWO00664-19]. The current planned drilling program augment those hydrogeological investigations (drilling and pump testing) to further identify potentially suitable sites for the development of additional production bore capacity in proximity to Engawala community, as well as the deepening of the existing Production Bore RN011363.

The works are planned to be completed subject to regulatory permissions and weather permitting before end of 2020-21 financial year