County Groundwater Protection Schemes

Geological Survey Ireland has completed Groundwater Protection Schemes (GWPSs) in partnership with Local Authorities, and there is now national coverage of GWPS mapping. From the mid-1990's to the mid-2000's, GWPSs were undertaken on a county-by-county basis, with maps and full reports produced. This work covered about 40% of the country. For the remaining counties, GWPS maps are available.

County Groundwater Protection Scheme reports and Source Protection reports can be accessed below by clicking on the relevant county.

Groundwater Protection Scheme Maps

Groundwater Protection Scheme maps comprise aquifer, groundwater vulnerability, source protection area/zone maps, and groundwater protection response maps. Hydrogeological data such as well yield and productivity, karst feature and dye tracing, and depth to rock data are interpreted by hydrogeologists to create the maps.

Groundwater Protection Scheme Reports

Groundwater Protection Scheme reports are available for certain counties. The reports summarise the hydrogeology, aquifers, groundwater vulnerability and the groundwater use in a county at the time of the study. Groundwater Quality reports give an overview of the main water quality issues in each county at the time of reporting.

Source Protection Zone Reports

Source Protection Zone delineation provides an assessment of the land area that contributes groundwater to a borehole or spring.