This guideline provides the preferred practice for hydrogeological assessment (HA) to understand groundwater quality and the risks of harm to human health and the environment.  

EPA expects that a HA will be undertaken whenever an activity poses a risk of harm to groundwater. This includes past, current or proposed activities. A HA should also be undertaken to decide how to clean up groundwater contamination. 

HAs are complex and should only be undertaken by qualified and experienced hydrogeologists.  

EPA’s guidelines provide information on:  

• how contamination moves in groundwater 
• the hydrogeological assessment process 
• undertaking hydrogeological field studies 
• how to use environmental values in hydrogeological assessment 
• considerations for groundwater modelling and risk assessment 
• dealing with uncertainty 
• what a hydrogeological assessment report should contain.