Understanding Ireland’s groundwater

Aquifer classification

The groundwater section have classified the different aquifer types in Ireland.

The characterising of groundwater systems requires quantification of the factors that govern the ability of the system to store and transmit groundwater. Thus a major task is the estimation or measurement of fundamental aquifer properties. Geological Survey Ireland has established regionalised aquifer properties described and captured in an aquifer parameters report.

Groundwater Vulnerability

Groundwater Vulnerability is a term used to represent the natural ground characteristics that determine the ease with which groundwater may be contaminated by human activities. The groundwater vulnerability concept is based largely on the question ‘can water and contaminants move in the subsurface materials (soil and subsoil) and/get down to groundwater easily?’

Groundwater bodies

Groundwater bodies are subdivisions of large geographical areas of aquifers so that they can be effectively managed in order to protect the groundwater and linked surface waters.