Groundwater in Northern Ireland
Groundwater can be found beneath most parts of Northern Ireland and forms an integral part of its water cycle. It is contained within geological deposits beneath the ground with the water stored in pore spaces between mineral grains and/or within fractures and cracks in the rock itself.
Groundwater is an important natural resource that supports river flows as well as ecological diversity in rivers, lakes and wetlands. It is also available for use for water supply by abstraction from boreholes, wells and springs.
The natural chemistry of groundwater is influenced by a variety of factors such as the type of rocks it flows through, or its proximity to coastal salt waters.
Generally, groundwater in its natural state is of good quality as the soils and rocks it moves through act as filters. However, groundwater quality can be affected by a wide variety of land use such as the over-application of nitrates and pesticides, leaks from hydrocarbon storage tanks, contaminated land drainage, or poorly sited, or constructed, septic tanks.
Pollutants can be either chemical or microbiological and the deterioration of groundwater quality can impact on those rivers and lakes into which the groundwater discharges.
Groundwater quality is routinely sampled and tested using a network of 90 boreholes and springs across Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland groundwater monitoring strategy Sept 2000(.PDF 723Kb)
.
Data collected is used to assess compliance with European legislation such as the Nitrates (91/676/EEC) and Groundwater (80/68/EEC) Directives.
The Regional Groundwater Monitoring Network (Northern Ireland) annual review reports are as follows:
- Review of 2003 Monitoring Data(.PDF 635Kb)
- Review of 2004 Monitoring Data(.PDF 673Kb)
- Review of 2005 Monitoring Data(.PDF 734Kb)
- Review of 2006 Monitoring Data(.PDF 3.89Mb)
The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) contains specific monitoring requirements for groundwater. The existing network will be modified to make sure standards are met.
Guidance notes on matters relating to groundwater management and protection include:
- Approach to Groundwater Monitoring for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive(.PDF 521Kb)
- Managing the Water Environment in Northern Ireland 2000(.PDF 2.38Mb), includes further information about groundwater monitoring.
Guidance notes on matters relating to groundwater management and protection include:
