The Torrens Rural Catchment can be divided into three zones where groundwater extraction from fractured rock aquifers is significant - the Fourth and Sixth Creek catchments, and the Birdwood - Gumeracha area. The Fourth Creek Catchment, which is underlain by the relatively impermeable Woolshed Flat Shale and possesses steep topography, has a recharge of about 60 mm/year (9% of rainfall). An approximate water balance suggests that there may be 300 ML available for further development. Aquifer yields and salinities are more favourable in the Sixth Creek Catchment, due to the presence of the permeable Basket Range Sandstone, which together with high rainfall, has resulted in recharge of 115 mm/year (15% of rainfall). An estimated 1500 ML is available for development. There has been a decrease in the volumes of groundwater extracted in the Fourth and Sixth Creek catchments by 20-30% since 1970, due to a change in land use from irrigating vegetables and orchards to grazing, rural living and vinegrowing. Although there is potential for increased development in these catchments, the local effects of any large increases in groundwater pumping on groundwater levels and environmental flows in streams would need to be further investigated. Recharge in the Birdwood - Gumeracha area is estimated to average 90 mm/year (12% of rainfall). Despite limitations of the 1999 land use survey data, it is thought that a significant increase of over 40% has occurred in groundwater pumping since 1993, largely due to the expansion of vineyards, orchards and vegetable plots. Extracted groundwater volumes may be approaching 75% of recharge, with more accurate volume information required, especially in areas of concentrated irrigation. The water balances need to be revised at regular intervals to take into account such changes in land use and irrigation practices. Regular water level and salinity monitoring networks should be established in areas of high groundwater use, and the metering of all irrigation and industrial supplies should eventually be carried out to allow accurate estimates of water use. There is potential for dryland and stream salinisation in the Torrens Rural Catchment portion upstream of Birdwood, an area which is underlain by Kanmantoo Group rocks. The establishment here of a groundwater monitoring network is strongly recommended in order to determine long term watertable trends.