IE GSI Groundwater Protection Scheme Reports 50k Ireland (ROI) ITM View

Groundwater is the water that soaks into the ground from rain and can be stored beneath the ground. Groundwater is used to supply drinking water and needs to be protected. It is mainly protected by layers of subsoils, sands or peats.

A Groundwater Protection Scheme provides guidelines for the planning and licensing authorities to protect groundwater. The reports help in decision-making on the location, nature and control of developments and activities in order to protect groundwater.

They are county-based projects run jointly by the GSI and the Local Authorities.

The reports summarise the hydrogeology, aquifers, groundwater vulnerability and the groundwater use in a county at the time of the study.

Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater. It deals with how water gets into the ground (recharge), how it flows beneath the ground (through aquifers), where water is stored (in aquifers) and how groundwater interacts with the surrounding soil and rock (the geology). The vulnerability classifies how vulnerable groundwater is to pollution across Ireland, based on its level of protection. Knowing this helps people to plan and carry out activities on the land in a way that keeps our groundwater safe to drink.