Groundwater & Surface Water Monitoring

Expert monitoring of groundwater and surface water — helping you manage risk and meet environmental obligations.

Why Monitor Groundwater and Surface Water?

Monitoring surface water and groundwater is critical for:

  • Development approvals and DAs

  • Remediation and contaminated land projects

  • EPA licence and POEO Act compliance

  • Resource recovery and waste classification

  • Baseline and impact assessments

  • Industrial and infrastructure operations

  • Acid sulfate soil and salinity risk management

Whether it’s to satisfy consent conditions, investigate contamination, or demonstrate compliance, our consultants deliver data you can trust — and advice you can act on.

Our Water Monitoring Services

We tailor every program to your site, risks, and regulatory needs, offering:

Groundwater Monitoring

  • Installation and gauging of monitoring wells (bores)

  • Purging and low-flow sampling techniques

  • Field parameters (pH, EC, DO, redox, turbidity, temperature)

  • Laboratory analysis of heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, PFAS, and more

  • Depth to groundwater and seasonal variation tracking

  • Contaminant plume assessment and delineation

  • Groundwater quality compared against NEPM (ASC) and ANZG Guidelines

Used in planning approvals, landfill/leachate assessments, remediation, fuel site investigations, and baseline studies.

Surface Water Monitoring

  • Creek, stormwater, wetland, and catchment sampling

  • Flow conditions, aquatic ecology, and riparian considerations

  • Sediment and water quality sampling

  • Field measurements and NATA-accredited lab analysis

  • Comparisons against ANZG 2018 Guidelines, local water quality objectives, or licence limits

  • Impact monitoring for developments near sensitive waterways or wetlands

Used for EPA monitoring programs, stormwater assessments, biodiversity offsets, and site runoff control.

Regulatory & Compliance Reporting

  • Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) compliance

  • POEO Act and local consent condition reporting

  • Ongoing monitoring and annual return programs

  • Baseline reporting and development risk assessments

  • Contaminated land and remediation verification

We prepare clear, audit-ready reports for submission to NSW EPA, councils, or certifiers — aligned with relevant guidelines and decision frameworks.

Who We Work With

We support a wide range of clients, including:

  • Developers and infrastructure contractors

  • Industrial operators and quarries

  • Town planners and environmental consultants

  • Government agencies and councils

  • Fuel stations, EPA-licensed premises, and remediation sites

  • Landowners near waterways or in mapped sensitive zones

Whether you're building near a creek, cleaning up a spill, or managing EPA compliance — we help you monitor, report, and manage environmental risks effectively.

Why Choose Confluence Environmental?

  • Experienced environmental consultants with water monitoring expertise

  • NATA-accredited laboratory testing and defensible field methods

  • Compliance with NEPM, ANZG, POEO Act, and council requirements

  • Responsive and cost-effective programs tailored to your site

  • Clear, visual reporting for decision-making and submissions

We don’t just collect data — we help you understand what it means and what to do next.

Where We Work

We offer groundwater and surface water monitoring services across:

  • Sydney (Metro, West, and Greater Sydney)

  • Central Coast

  • Newcastle & Lake Macquarie

  • Hunter Valley

  • Illawarra, Mid North Coast, and Regional NSW

Need expert advice?

Need a water monitoring program for your site or project? We offer fixed-fee proposals, site-specific methods, and expert insight to support compliance and planning.

Call 0493 042 642 or drop us an enquiry below to request a quote or consultation.

A groundwater borehole recently drilled and monitored by Confluence Environmental in Newcastle NSW

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Groundwater & Surface Water Monitoring

Why is groundwater and surface water monitoring important?

Monitoring helps detect and manage environmental risks early. It supports:

  • Early identification of groundwater or surface water contamination from industrial, urban, or agricultural sources

  • Protection of sensitive ecosystems, aquatic life, and drinking water supplies

  • Compliance with NSW environmental regulations, including EPA licence conditions, planning approvals, and the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act)

  • Baseline data collection before development or remediation activities

What are the common sources of water contamination?

Typical causes of water quality impacts in NSW include:

  • Leaking underground petroleum storage systems (UPSS), especially at fuel stations

  • Chemical spills or discharges from industrial sites

  • Stormwater runoff carrying sediment, nutrients, pesticides, or hydrocarbons

  • Landfill leachate or contaminated fill material

  • Disturbance of acid sulfate soils, releasing sulfuric compounds into water systems

How often should water quality monitoring be conducted?

Monitoring frequency depends on your site’s regulatory requirements, contamination risk, and project phase. Common scenarios include:

  • Quarterly or annual sampling for routine environmental compliance or long-term site monitoring

  • Monthly or rainfall-triggered sampling for high-risk sites or active remediation areas

  • Short-term intensive programs for due diligence, development approvals, or baseline studies

We tailor every monitoring program to suit your site's conditions and obligations.

What happens if contamination is detected in groundwater or surface water?

If results show elevated levels of pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients):

  • A Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) may be required to define the extent and risk

  • A Remediation Action Plan (RAP) may be developed to address contamination

  • Ongoing water monitoring and reporting is usually required to track progress and ensure regulatory compliance

Confluence Environmental can guide you through each step of this process.

Can Confluence Environmental help with EPA and council compliance?

Absolutely. We offer:

  • Site-specific water monitoring programs

  • Sampling and laboratory analysis using approved methods

  • Regulatory reporting suitable for NSW EPA, local councils, and water authorities

  • Expert guidance on interpreting results and managing environmental obligations

Our team ensures you stay compliant — and avoid costly delays, penalties, or remediation missteps.