Projects

​Groundwater is a major natural resource and supplies up to one third of Ireland's drinking water. Public water supplies in some counties come entirely from groundwater, and some counties rely mainly on surface water. Two thirds of Group Water Schemes use wells and springs.  In rural areas not served by Public or Group Water Schemes, groundwater is usually the only source of supply and there are more than 100,000 private wells and springs in use. With such a large proportion of the country relying on groundwater it is essential that this resource is properly protected. This can be achieved through appropriate land use planning and practice.

​The Groundwater 3D project is a multi-annual government funded project focussed on assisting Geological Survey Ireland meets its policy goals set out in the 2015-2018 and 2019-2021 Business Plans.  Greater and relevant scientific understanding and information has been reached by the Groundwater 3D project to date through extensive field based geological surveys and data assessments.  New and updated maps, reports and geodatabases have been prepared. 

​GWFlood is a groundwater flood monitoring and mapping programme aimed at addressing the knowledge gaps surrounding groundwater flooding in Ireland. The programme was initiated in response to the unprecedented groundwater floods of Winter 2015/2016 and is a collaborative effort combining the karst groundwater expertise of Geological Survey Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. We will provide the data and analysis tools required by local and national authorities to make scientifically-informed decisions regarding groundwater flooding. 

​GWClimate is a groundwater monitoring and modelling project which aims to investigate the impact of climate change on groundwater in Ireland. The data and analyses from this project will improve the national capacity to understand how groundwater resources respond to climatic stresses and enhance the reliability of planning and forecasting.