This is a polygon dataset showing Water Framework Directive (WFD) Groundwater Bodies. It shows major groundwater bodies (aquifers).
This dataset provides attribution relating to the 2025 classification results, as well as other relevant information and data about each groundwater body.
Article 2, clause 2 of the WFD defines groundwater bodies 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 represents 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 is therefore directly derived from the underlying BGS data. These classifications were verified by the British Geology Survey (BGS). The data has gone out for consultation at Area level, and in some instances 1:50K Solid Geology has been used to define localised boundaries. Ordnance Survey coastline data has been used when creating this dataset. The OS data used was from OS OpenMap - Local.
The geometry of this dataset has been simplified to allow for faster web mapping services. The full resolution of this dataset is called WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 4 Classification 2025 (Full Resolution).
There is a layer file associated with this dataset. The layer file is called Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx. The layer file displays the quantitative class for each groundwater body. Please note that there are limitations with the shapefile format of the data. The data applies to Cycle 4 of the WFD.
See the Environment Agency's Water Hub for more information (link below). Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2026. All rights reserved.
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026.
