Joint BGS/Natural Resources Wales (NRW) dataset of aquifer designations for Wales at 1:50 000. The dataset identifies different types of aquifer - underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock or drift deposits from which groundwater can be extracted. These designations reflect the importance of aquifers in terms of groundwater as a resource (drinking water supply) but also their role in supporting surface water flows and wetland ecosystems. The maps are split into two different type of aquifer designation: superficial - permeable unconsolidated (loose) deposits (for example, sands and gravels), and bedrock - solid permeable formations e.g. sandstone, chalk and limestone.

These maps provide an overview, at the national scale, of the spatial relationships between principal aquifers and some of the major shale and clay units in England and Wales. The data comprises a series of occurrence maps shows the distribution of rock units that form the principal aquifers and some major shale and clay units in England and Wales. In addition, a series of separation maps show the vertical separation between pairs of shales or clays and overlying aquifers. If shale gas resources are to be developed in the UK, the implications for groundwater will need to be considered as part of any risk assessment. A step in such an assessment will be to understand and quantify the spatial relationships between the potential shale gas source rocks (including both shales and some clay units) and overlying aquifers. The datasets used to produce the aquifer maps, the shale and clay occurrence maps and the separation maps are available to download for your own use. As with other BGS data sets available for download, this will enable you to work offline to develop your own systems and methodologies using BGS data. The data used to produce the aquifer, shale and clay maps are available below as ESRI GIS and KML files.

Data on the physical properties (transmissivity, storage coefficient, porosity and permeability) of aquifers in England and Wales. Compiled by BGS staff from paper records of field and laboratory testing held by BGS, the Environment Agency and other organisations. Contains summary data on approximately 20,000 pump tests at over 2000 discrete locations. Raw data may be available on request. The majority of BGS and EA pump test data is included for both major and minor aquifers, but in minor aquifers this is complemented by data on specific yield. Laboratory determinations of porosity and permeability are limited to open file BGS data only. All data subject to similar processing and interpretation, but raw data highly variable.

Digitised versions of a set of 1:100,000 scale maps of aquifer vulnerability for England and Wales. The dataset identifies the vulnerability to pollution of major and minor aquifers as defined by the Environment Agency, utilising a combination of geological, hydrogeological and soils data. The maps are designed to be used by planners, developers, consultants and regulatory bodies to ensure that developments conform to the Policy and Practice of the Environment Agency for the protection of Groundwater. Please note that these maps are based on data from the late 1980's and early 1990's, more up-to-date digital data may now be available from the Environment Agency. Flat maps may be purchased from the BGS, some sheets are now out of print.

Joint BGS/Natural Resources Wales (NRW) dataset of aquifer designations for Wales at 1:50 000. The dataset identifies different types of aquifer - underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock or drift deposits from which groundwater can be extracted. These designations reflect the importance of aquifers in terms of groundwater as a resource (drinking water supply) but also their role in supporting surface water flows and wetland ecosystems. The maps are split into two different type of aquifer designation: superficial - permeable unconsolidated (loose) deposits (for example, sands and gravels), and bedrock - solid permeable formations e.g. sandstone, chalk and limestone.

This layer of the map based index (GeoIndex) shows where aquifer vulnerability maps are available for England and Wales. These maps identify areas in which the groundwater resources require protection from potentially polluting activities. The maps are designed to be used by planners, developers, consultants and regulatory bodies to ensure that developments conform to the Policy and Practice of the Environment Agency for the protection of Groundwater. The Soil Survey, Land Research Centre and the British Geological Survey were commissioned by the Environment Agency to prepare 53 groundwater vulnerability maps at 1:100,000 scale. Currently we are unable to provide scanned copies of these maps due to Copyright restrictions. Please note that these maps are based on data from the late 1980's and early 1990's. More up-to-date digital data may now be available from the Environment Agency.

This dataset is available for use for non-commercial purposes only on request as AfA248 dataset Groundwater Vulnerability Maps (2017). For commercial use please contact the British Geological Survey. The Groundwater Vulnerability Maps show the vulnerability of groundwater to a pollutant discharged at ground level based on the hydrological, geological, hydrogeological and soil properties within a single square kilometre. The 2017 publication has updated the groundwater vulnerability maps to reflect improvements in data mapping, modelling capability and understanding of the factors affecting vulnerability Two map products are available: • The combined groundwater vulnerability map. This product is designed for technical specialists due to the complex nature of the legend which displays groundwater vulnerability (High, Medium, Low), the type of aquifer (bedrock and/or superficial) and aquifer designation status (Principal, Secondary, Unproductive). These maps require that the user is able to understand the vulnerability assessment and interpret the individual components of the legend. • The simplified groundwater vulnerability map. This was developed for non-specialists who need to know the overall risk to groundwater but do not have extensive hydrogeological knowledge or the time to interpret the underlying data. The map has five risk categories (High, Medium-High, Medium, Medium-Low and Low) based on the likelihood of a pollutant reaching the groundwater (i.e. the vulnerability), the types of aquifer present and the potential impact (i.e. the aquifer designation status). The two maps also identify areas where solution features that enable rapid movement of a pollutant may be present (identified as stippled areas) and areas where additional local information affecting vulnerability is held by the Environment Agency (identified as dashed areas). Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2017. All rights reserved.Derived from 1:50k scale BGS Digital Data under Licence 2011/057 British Geological Survey. © NERC.

The BGS Hydrogeological Maps of Scotland data product is comprised of three datasets: Bedrock Aquifer Productivity (Scotland); Superficial Aquifer Productivity (Scotland); and Groundwater Vulnerability (Scotland). Aquifer productivity is a measure of the potential of aquifers to sustain a borehole water supply. The Aquifer Productivity (Scotland) datasets indicate the location and productivity of bedrock and superficial aquifers across Scotland, and their groundwater flow characteristics. The Groundwater Vulnerability (Scotland) dataset shows the relative vulnerability of groundwater to contamination across Scotland. The BGS Hydrogeological Maps of Scotland data product is developed as a tool to support groundwater resource management. It may be useful to anyone interested in learning more about, assessing or managing groundwater resources across Scotland. The datasets within the product are delivered at 1: 100 000 scale.

The hydrogeological map indicates aquifer potential in generalised terms using a threefold division of geological formations: those in which intergranular flow in the saturated zone is dominant, those in which flow is controlled by fissures or discontinuities and less permeable formations including aquifers concealed at depth beneath covering layers. Highly productive aquifers are distinguished from those that are only of local importance or have no significant groundwater. Within each of these classes the strata are grouped together according to age or lithology. The 1:625 000 scale data may be used as a guide to the aquifers at a regional or national level, but should not be relied on for local information.

The Environment Agency has updated its groundwater vulnerability map to reflect improvements in data mapping, modelling capability and understanding of the factors affecting vulnerability. Two new maps are available which show the vulnerability of groundwater to a pollutant discharged at ground level. The potential impact of groundwater pollution is considered using the aquifer designation status which provides an indication of the scale and importance of groundwater for potable water supply and/or in supporting baseflow to rivers, lakes and wetlands. This dataset has shared IP (Intellectual Property) between Environment Agency and British Geological Survey. It supersedes the previous Groundwater Vulnerability 100k data released by EA.

WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 2 Classification 2019 is an alternate version of ‘WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 2’ with the addition of 2019 classification data and additional user attribution. The geometry has been simplified to improve user experience, so the high resolution legal definition of these water bodies remains ‘WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 2’. These are polygon datasets which have been created for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Article 2, clause 2 of the WFD defines them as '…all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil'. For the purposes of reporting under the WFD a groundwater body represent a distinct body of groundwater flow with a coherent flow unit including recharge and discharge areas with little flow across the boundaries. These reflect hydrogeological characteristics containing information on flow and stage properties, recharge and vulnerability to pollution. This has been undertaken through defining aquifers into different types and broken into catchment units at Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) scale.

The primary input dataset is '1:625K Classified Aquifer Geology' that has been constructed by the Environment Agency. This dataset has been digitised directly from the hard copy '1:250K Solid Geology Map' and classified according to aquifer type and are therefore directly derived from the underlying BGS data. These classifications were verified by the British Geology Survey (BGS). These data have gone out for consultation at Area level and in some instances 1:50K Solid Geology has been used to define localised boundaries. The geometry of this dataset has then been simplified to allow for fast display, analysis and reduced file sizes.

Since water bodies are attributed with a unique water body identifier 'WB_ID' this dataset can be linked directly to other WFD data sources.

Database of water levels in selected observation boreholes: daily, weekly or monthly measurements. Consistent set of boreholes in catchments relatively undisturbed by pumping distributed across most significant aquifer units in the UK. Most sites have more than 30 years of data, and some sites have considerably longer time series. The dataset represents only 5% of active groundwater monitoring networks run by UK measuring agencies. BGS holds other, historical, groundwater level data, including one off measurements and time series.

The map shows the potential for the rocks to supply groundwater and the type of groundwater flow within the rocks. The dataset reattributes polygons in the Digital Geological Map Data of Great Britain - 625k (DiGMapGB-625) Bedrock version 5 dataset to indicate whether the bedrock is an aquifer, the type of flow through the aquifer (fracture and fissure flow or intergranular flow) and how productive the aquifer is likely to be. The dataset is based on the known hydrogeological properties of rock types. The dataset covers just the bedrock formations for the UK and the Isle of Man. The data can be used for planning, environmental analysis, water supply and hazards.

Source Protection Zones [Merged] have been created as public facing outlines where common boundaries and overlaps (based on zone number) have been removed. Source Protection Zones (SPZs) are defined around large and public potable groundwater abstraction sites. The purpose of SPZs is to provide additional protection to safeguard drinking water quality through constraining the proximity of an activity that may impact upon a drinking water abstraction. This is part of an initial screening process in assessing impacts to groundwater resources. Zones around location sites are defined by groundwater travel time to an abstraction. This is determined through applying Environment Agency groundwater flow models run at the location of abstractions, inputting parameters such as flow direction, geology type, rainfall and hydrological boundaries. SPZs provide a visual representation of the increased risks as you get closer to the abstraction.

The following subdivisions are defined within SPZs: Zone 1: (Inner Protection Zone) - This zone is defined by a travel time of 50-days or less from any point within the zone at, or below, the water table. Additionally, the zone has as a minimum a 50-metre radius. It is based principally on biological decay criteria and is designed to protect against the transmission of toxic chemicals and water-borne disease.
Zone 2: (Outer Protection Zone) - This zone is defined by the 400-day travel time from a point below the water table. Additionally this zone has a minimum radius of 250 or 500 metres, depending on the size of the abstraction. The travel time is derived from consideration of the minimum time required to provide delay, dilution and attenuation of slowly degrading pollutants. Zone 3: (Total catchment) - This zone is defined as the total area needed to support the abstraction or discharge from the protected groundwater source.

We’ve extended some zones to include areas where there is protective geology cover, such as clay. This is because activities below the surface, such as deep drilling, could create pathways for pollutants to enter the groundwater. The SPZ maps show them as zones 1c, 2c and 3c.

A further Zone 4, or ‘Zone of Special Interest’ is occasionally defined for some groundwater sources. These zones highlight areas (mainly on non-aquifers) where known local conditions mean that potentially polluting activities could impact on a groundwater source, even though the area is outside the normal catchment of that source.

Location of Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTEs) in England assessed by the Environment Agency for the second River Basin cycle of the EU Water Framework Directive. Based on SSSI outlines from Natural England, filtered to include only those sites with wetland vegetation communities listed in UK Technical Advisory Group paper 5 a-b (2004). Note that the dataset is not exhaustive, and other groundwater dependent wetlands also exist in England. Note this dataset has been extracted from the England and Wales dataset 'GWDTEs_2014' created on 16/10/2014 Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved. © Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [2016]

A collection of hydrogeological maps created by the British Geological Survey between 1967 and 1994. The maps in the collection cover aspects of groundwater availability, exploitation and quality, and were published at various scales from 1:25 000 to 1:625 000. A hydrogeological map is a specialized type of map that illustrates the distribution and characteristics of hydrogeological features in a particular area. Hydrogeological maps of the UK provide information on major aquifers, including geological and lithological information, surface drainage systems and water quality issues. The 23 maps show information on surface water features, the three dimensional geometry of aquifers, groundwater levels, abstractions and quality including saline intrusion in varying amounts of detail. They range in scale from 1:625 000, for the national map of the hydrogeology of England and Wales, down to 1:25 000 for some of the smaller regional maps. These maps are important tools for understanding and managing groundwater resources, as well as for addressing water-related environmental issues. These maps are hard-copy paper records stored in the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC), and are delivered as digital scans through the BGS website.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have updated its groundwater vulnerability map to reflect improvements in data mapping, modelling capability and understanding of the factors affecting vulnerability. Two new maps are available which show the vulnerability of groundwater to a pollutant discharged at ground level. The potential impact of groundwater pollution is considered using the aquifer designation status which provides an indication of the scale and importance of groundwater for potable water supply and/or in supporting baseflow to rivers, lakes and wetlands. This dataset for Wales has shared intellectual property (IP) between Natural Resources Wales and British Geological Survey.

The '1:50k WFD Groundwaterbodies is a polygon dataset which has been created for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Article 2, clause 2 of the WFD defines them as '…all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil'. For the purposes of reporting under the WFD a groundwater body represent a distinct body of groundwater flow with a coherent flow unit including recharge and discharge areas with little flow across the boundaries. These reflect hydrogeological characteristics containing information on flow and stage properties, recharge and vulnerability to pollution. This has been undertaken through defining aquifers into different types and broken into catchment units at Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) scale. The primary input dataset is '1:625K Classified Aquifer Geology' that has been constructed by the Environment Agency. This dataset has been digitised directly from the hard copy '1:250K Solid Geology Map' and classified according to aquifer type and are therefore directly derived from the underlying BGS data. These classifications were verified by the British Geology Survey (BGS). These data have gone out for consultation at Area level and in some instances 1:50K Solid Geology has been used to define localised boundaries. Since waterbodies are attributed with a unique identifier 'WB_ID' this dataset can be linked directly to other WFD data sources such as physical characteristics, risk, classification and proposed objectives.

The 'WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 2' is actually just an update of the geometries previously supplied as part of AfA090 1:50k WFD Groundwater bodies. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved. Derived in part from 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 scale digital data under permission from British Geological Survey. ©NERC. © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100024198.

The dataset contains results of field measurements (temperature, pH, conductivity, redox potential, oxygen content) of groundwater and samples collection details as well as the results of laboratory analysis of the set of dissolved and gaseous parameters performed within the environmental monitoring campaign on 3 Polish shale gas sites where exploration activities including hydraulic fracturing were conducted in 2010-2016 period.

This dataset is a model output created using the BGS AquiMod model. It provides monthly groundwater level relative to the Ordnance Datum (maOD) from 1891 to 2015, reconstructed for 54 observation boreholes across the UK. Based on the Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology, 90th percentile and 10th percentile confidence bounds have been estimated and are given for each of reconstructed groundwater level time series.