A day in the life of a hydrogeologist in South Australia

This World Water Monitoring Day (Friday 18, September), we’re going underground! Meet Kate Hyland, Senior Hydrogeologist with the Department for Environment and Water, here to delve deeper into the wonderful world of groundwater and hydrogeology.

What does a hydrogeologist do, and how do you explain your job to people at a barbecue?

Hydro means water and geo means rocks, so I study the water in the rocks beneath our feet.

I usually explain that my job is to understand where groundwater is, how much we can safely use, and how we protect it to support both people and the environment.

What first sparked your interest in groundwater and the science beneath our feet?

My interest in groundwater grew from a passion for social justice and a belief that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a basic human right.

Groundwater is often the hidden resource that makes this possible, and that's what first drew me to hydrogeology.

What continues to motivate me is the opportunity to combine science, people and environmental stewardship to create equitable and sustainable water solutions.

What does the typical week of a hydrogeologist look like?

No two days are ever the same, and that's one of the things I love most about being a hydrogeologist. Over the course of my career, I've worked everywhere from remote communities in the Pacific and Africa to regional and remote Australia. What I’ve learnt is that every groundwater system presents a new challenge.

Much like solving a puzzle, we use all the available evidence to develop a conceptual understanding of the geology, groundwater systems and how water moves through them. A typical day might involve piecing together information from drilling bore logs (a vertical record of what’s beneath the surface), groundwater levels, water quality data and geophysical surveys (scans of the underground) to build a picture of what's happening beneath the ground.

Early on, fieldwork is also a big part of the job. That can mean measuring groundwater levels in monitoring wells, collecting water samples, supervising drilling programs, or conducting geophysical surveys.

One day I might be standing beside a drilling rig, and the next I could be hiking kilometres across paddocks carrying what looks like a giant 20-kilogram hula hoop on my back – it's actually an electromagnetic instrument that sends signals into the ground to help us understand the geology and groundwater conditions below the surface.

Just as important is communicating what we find. I have worked with local communities, Landscape Boards, industry, Traditional Owners, scientists and decision-makers to explain complex groundwater issues in a way that helps inform practical water management decisions.

The variety keeps it interesting. One day you're in the field collecting data, the next you're analysing results, building computer models and turning that information into knowledge that can help manage our water resources.

What parts of the job do you find the most challenging?

Understanding what is happening underground can be like putting together a giant puzzle with missing pieces. The challenge is using the best available science to make informed decisions today, while balancing the needs of communities, industry and the environment.

There's rarely a simple answer, which makes the work both challenging and rewarding.

What are some interesting facts about groundwater in South Australia that you think people should know?

Most people don't think much about groundwater because they can't see it, yet it's one of South Australia's most important natural resources. It's the state's largest source of fresh water and, for many regional communities, it's their primary source of drinking water.

Something I find fascinating is the long history of Aboriginal peoples' connection to groundwater in South Australia. Long before modern hydrogeology, Aboriginal communities understood the importance of springs, soaks and waterholes sustained by groundwater, and their knowledge helped people live successfully in some of the driest parts of Australia.

It’s a reminder that groundwater isn't just an environmental or economic resource; it also has profound cultural significance and is deeply connected to people's relationship with Country.

We are also fortunate to have part of the Great Artesian Basin in South Australia, one of the largest groundwater systems in the world. Its springs create remarkable desert oases that support unique ecosystems and hold deep cultural significance for Aboriginal peoples.

What are some interesting or important projects that you have worked on, or are currently working on?

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work with communities in very different settings, from helping improve water resource management in Tonga, to supporting local well supply and sanitation initiatives in villages across central Tanzania and working on water security challenges for remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

These experiences taught me that while every community is different, water is at the heart of healthy people, healthy communities and healthy environments.

In South Australia, one of the most interesting projects I've been involved in is supporting the review of the Eyre Peninsula Water Allocation Plan. As part of this work, I've collaborated with researchers from Flinders University, the Landscape Boards and the CSIRO to build a better understanding of how changes in water availability may affect water security across the Eyre Peninsula.

A key focus has been understanding how groundwater systems might respond to a drier future and what that means for communities, industry and the environment that depend on them. We've also been investigating the risk of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers, where declining groundwater levels can allow seawater to move inland and affect water quality. Improving our understanding of these risks helps ensure groundwater can be managed sustainably and remain a reliable source of water for future generations.

What I find particularly rewarding is working with a range of scientists, water managers and local stakeholders to tackle complex challenges and provide the science needed to support practical water management decisions across South Australia.

In what way does your role help the Department for Environment and Water manage South Australia’s water resources?

After spending much of my career working in different parts of Australia and overseas, I wanted to bring those experiences home to South Australia. Working for the Department for Environment and Water gives me the opportunity to combine science, policy and community outcomes in a way that can make a genuine difference.

It's rewarding to know that the work I do contributes to decisions that affect the long-term health of South Australia's water resources and the people, industries and ecosystems that depend on them.

Want to learn more? Explore some of the Department for Environment and Water's exciting groundwater projects: 

Great Artesian Basin Water Security Program

Revision of the Australian Groundwater Modelling Guidelines

Supplementing regional water security with managed aquifer recharge

Ensuring water security, economic prosperity and nature positive outcomes for Elliston

Options for small to medium-scale desalination brine disposal

Main image: DEW hydrogeologists Claire Faulkner and Kate Hyland