Mintabie Opal Field With the increasing population at Mintabie there will be a greater demand for water, to the point where existing sources become inadequate. At present water supplies are obtained from three wells in the vicinity of the opalfield, namely, Apamurra, Sailor and Larry Wells, all of which are used for the watering of cattle. In early 1979 a water well was privately drilled in the mining area, and reports indicated that it was of relatively low salinity and high yielding. However, a bore about 5 m away was found to be very low yielding. Some miners are using water from exploration drill holes which are mainly drilled by a Callweld plant, with a diameter of about 1 m. Streams in the area flow only on rare occasions, and surface water can be disregarded as a potential source of permanent supplies. This report summaries the known position regarding groundwater, and recommendations are made for further investigation and testing. Marla Marla is considered to be the general area extending east from Marla Bore along the present Stuart Highway to Marla Road House. The latter is in an area where a future settlement may be located. In any proposals for establishing a town, water will be one of the first requirements. Because of the general lack of surface water in the area, groundwater appears to offer the only possibility for a permanent supply. Testing of groundwater in the area is encouraging, although yields are relatively low, sufficient for only a small population.