Tiny Shrimp at 65 Metres: What a Downhole Camera Revealed in Our Well

In a recent inspection, we sent a downhole camera into a groundwater well to assess its condition. These inspections are routine in the life of any productive bore — they help us understand what's happening far below the surface, especially when water yield changes or the system needs maintenance. But what we found at 65 metres was more than just screens and sediment — we saw life. Tiny shrimp-like creatures, freely swimming in the dark water column, alive and well deep underground.

This might seem surprising, but it's not as rare as you'd think.

Groundwater Life: An Underground Ecosystem

What we observed are likely stygofauna — a general term for tiny aquatic animals that live in groundwater. These shrimp-like organisms are adapted to live in total darkness, often in very low-nutrient environments. They’re blind, colourless, and typically just a few millimetres long.

Their presence can actually be a sign of good water quality. Stygofauna are sensitive to pollution and often found only in clean, well-oxygenated aquifers. Their survival at 65 metres below ground tells us the bore taps into a relatively healthy aquifer with a stable environment.

Why Does This Matter?

While spotting these tiny creatures might seem like a curiosity, it also serves a few practical purposes:

• Water Quality Indicator: The presence of stygofauna is a biological indicator that the water hasn’t been heavily contaminated with chemicals or pathogens.

• Minimal Sediment Movement: These organisms wouldn’t thrive in a high-sediment or unstable flow environment. Their presence suggests the bore isn’t experiencing excessive turbidity or sand pumping.

• Awareness for Treatment and Pumping: If the bore is used for drinking or irrigation, understanding the biological makeup of the water helps inform treatment choices. These organisms aren’t harmful, but they are part of the natural ecosystem you’re drawing from.

A Reminder of the Life Below

For many, a bore is just a hole that delivers water. But what this camera footage reminds us is that aquifers are more than that — they’re living, breathing ecosystems. Groundwater may seem inert, but in many ways it’s just as alive as a river or lake, just hidden from view.

So next time you think about your bore, remember: 65 metres down, there might be tiny shrimp swimming in the dark, living their entire lives in a world we rarely get to see.