IE GSI Groundwater Recharge 40K Ireland (ROI) ITM WMS

Groundwater is the water that soaks into the ground from rain and is stored beneath the ground. An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater. The Groundwater Recharge map shows where different amounts of rainfall reach the stores of groundwater (the ‘aquifers’) across the country.

Knowing the location and amount of groundwater recharge is important. It helps us to identify groundwater sources which can be used to supply drinking water. The recharge map also helps us to manage the water supply sustainably. The map can help us to understand where there might be too much groundwater being taken from the ground compared to what seeps down to replenish it.

The groundwater recharge map also helps us to understand where land drainage is poor and where most surface run-off will take place, as this is the opposite of where most rainwater will soak down.