Groundwater Ecology Network Analysis Ready Data (NCEA)

Published by:
Environment Agency
Last updated:
19 June 2026
Topic:
Not added
Licence:
Other Licence
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Summary

The Groundwater Ecology (GWE) network provides the first strategic, nationally representative monitoring network for groundwater fauna in England. It integrates in‑situ water quality measurements, groundwater level data, and biological sampling to build a holistic picture of aquifer condition. Its purpose is to reveal the interdependencies between geology, chemistry, habitat structure and groundwater fauna, and set a baseline for groundwater condition. The dataset supports a range of research and analytical questions, including assessments of groundwater ecosystem health, species richness, natural capital valuation, and relationships between environmental pressures and ecological response.

A first round of monitoring, where a proportion of network sites were sampled, was completed in 2024. In 2025, a near complete network of 75 sites was delivered. By the end of the programme in 2028, we will have completed at least 3 full rounds of monitoring at all sites.

The GWE network is a project funded by the UK Government through Defra's NCEA programme. The NCEA is Defra's largest research and development (R&D) programme. It will produce a baseline of our natural assets by 2029; enabling a natural capital approach to policy and decision-making.

Users should ensure they have read the NCEA Analysis Ready Data Limitations Statement and dataset specific limitations/caveats outlined in the Data Dictionary. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2026. All rights reserved.

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Data links

Link to the data Format File added Data preview
NCEA Analysis Ready Data Limitations Statement Dec 2025 N/A 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA_Groundwater_Ecology_Network_ARD_Open.zip ZIP 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA_Groundwater_Ecology_Network_ARD_Open.gpkg.zip ZIP 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA Groundwater Ecology Network Sampling Framework Report.pdf PDF 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA Groundwater Ecology Network Method Summary.pdf PDF 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA Groundwater Ecology Network ARD Open - Database Diagram.pdf PDF 19 June 2026 Not available
NCEA Groundwater Ecology Network ARD Open - Data Dictionary.ods ODS 19 June 2026 Not available
GWE Operational Instructions and Laboratory Method Statements.zip ZIP 19 June 2026 Not available

Additional information

View additional metadata
Added to data.gov.uk
2026-06-15
Access contraints
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
Harvest GUID
72d5f902-162b-46fd-af4a-b727d2b23a9e
Extent
Latitude: 55.816° to °
Longitude: -6.236° to 2.072°
Spatial reference system
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700
Dataset reference date
2026-06-15 (creation)
2026-06-19 (publication)
2026-06-15 (revision)
Frequency of update
asNeeded
Responsible party
Environment Agency (pointOfContact)
ISO 19139 resource type
dataset
Metadata language
eng
Source Metadata
XML
HTML

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Licence information

Open Government Licence