Non-invasive groundwater tracking with Willowstick geophysical technology
29 June 2026
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For decades, groundwater investigations have forced a frustrating compromise. Drill a borehole and you get a single data point with no bigger picture. Run conventional geophysics and discrete flow paths blur into volumetrically averaged results. The consequences are familiar: over-drilling, missed pathways, ineffective remediation and lingering regulatory risk.
Willowstick Technologies takes a fundamentally different approach- and HydroTerra is proud to bring it to projects across Australia.
What makes Willowstick different?
Willowstick is a patented, active geophysical method that energises groundwater and tracks how it actually moves by measuring the resulting magnetic field. Rather than inferring flow from scattered points, it produces 2D and 3D models of preferential subsurface flow paths with unmatched precision. It is also non-invasive – using existing wells and piezometers with no drilling required – and surveys are completed in days, not weeks, with preliminary results available on-site. Think of it as an angiogram for groundwater: you are not guessing anymore, you are seeing the system.
Map first, then drill
Traditional projects drill first and collect incomplete data. Willowstick inverts this -map the entire subsurface system first, then target drilling and remediation with precision. The result is better outcomes, lower total project cost, and faster closure, with both 2D and 3D options to suit any budget.
Where it delivers
Willowstick excels at PFAS and dissolved-plume delineation, dam and TSF seepage, groundwater–surface water interaction, well siting, fractured rock systems, and remediation optimisation – cutting cost, reducing risk, and delivering defensible, regulator-ready data.
Coming soon: drone-deployed surveys
HydroTerra is preparing to conduct Willowstick surveys using drones, extending the method into remote, hard-to-access terrain while making data collection faster and safer.
