What impact can a wind farm
have on 
groundwater?
The development of a wind farm has th
e potential to impact on groundwater quality, 
groundwater quantity and/or the established groundwater flow regime. 
Figure
1 
overleaf
shows the scale and extent of the foundation of a single wind turbine which could potentially 
impact on the aquatic environ
ment. 
Changes to the local water environment can affect 
receptors such as wells/boreholes, springs, wetlands and waterways, and can also have 
implications for groundwater dependent ecology and/or land stability.
The key impacts to groundwater that can res
ult from the construction, operational and 
decommissioning stages of wind farms are summarised in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Potential impacts on groundwater from wind farms
Construction 
Phase
Operational 
Phase
Decommissioning 
Phase
Groundwater 
Flow 
Regime
Earthworks and site 
drainage:

Reduction in water 
table if dewatering 
is required for 
turbine foundation 
construction or 
borrow pits
;

Changes to 
groundwater 
distribution and 
flow.
Physical presence of 
turbines and tracks:

Possible changes 
to 
groundwater 
distribution
;

Reduction in 
groundwater 
storage.
Reduction of forestry 
in site area:

Changes to 
infiltration and 
surface runoff 
patterns, thereby 
influencing 
groundwater flow 
and distribution.
Physical presence of 
former turbines and 
tracks:

Possible changes 
to groundwater 
distribution
;

Reduction in 
groundwater 
storage.
Groundwater 
Quality
Earthworks:

Disturbance of 
contaminated soil 
and subsequent 
groundwater 
pollution.
Materials 
Management:

Pollution from spills 
or leaks of fuel, oil 
and
building 
materials.
Materials 
Management:

Pollution from 
spills or leaks of 
fuel or oil.
Use of vehicles and 
machinery to remove 
infrastructure:

Pollution from spills 
or leaks of fuel or 
oil.