9df8df53-2ab8-37a8-e044-0003ba9b0d98 English dataset British Geological Survey +44 28 9038 8462 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3SB United Kingdom gsni@detini.gov.uk pointOfContact 2026-05-26 UK GEMINI 2.3 http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605502 TM65 / Irish National Grid (EPSG::29900) GSNI GeoIndex Bedrock Aquifer 2004 creation http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605502 This map layer shows the classification of bedrock, as mapped at 1:250 000 scale, into aquifer categories. This classification was initially undertaken to support groundwater assessments undertaken for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). The classification was produced on behalf of Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) (DoE, Northern Ireland) and is the standard classification currently used for assessing activities which may impact on groundwater resources. The classification comprises six categories of bedrock aquifer, based upon relative resource productivity and flow type. Bedrock aquifer classification categories and overview description Bedrock High potential productivity fracture flow: Bh (f): High to moderate yields probable, however dependence on fracture flow makes poorer yields possible. Generally includes element of regional flow (kms). High potential productivity fracture/intergranular flow: Bh (l to f): High to moderate yields probable, however part dependence on fracture flow makes poorer yields possible. Dual porosity. Generally includes element of regional flow. High potential productivity fracture flow with karstic element: Bh (f to k): High to moderate yields probable, however dependence on fracture flow makes poorer yields possible. Evidence of karstic flow. Generally includes element of regional flow. Moderate potential productivity fracture flow: Bm (f): High to moderate yields possible in places however dependence on fracture flow makes poorer yields possible. Potential element of regional flow, but local flow significant. Limited potential productivity fracture flow: Bl (f): Moderate yields unusual. Low yields more common. Regional flow limited. Mainly shallow, local flow. Poor potential productivity fracture flow: Bp (f): Small supplies may be possible but strata rarely exploited. Negligible regional flow. Limited local flow The classification is intended to represent general regional differences in resource potential and dominant groundwater flow mechanisms in bedrock units as mapped at 1:250 000 scale across Northern Ireland. The classification is not intended to identify, for bedrock at a specific site location, what the aquifer properties are or what the yield will be in a borehole drilled into the bedrock strata at that location. Due to natural geological variability and data availability, this map cannot and is not intended to represent actual conditions on a site specific scale. For site specific investigations more detailed geological and hydrogeological information is available from GSNI. A more detailed description of the aquifer classification methodology can be found in McConvey P J 2005. Water Framework Directive, An aquifer classification scheme for Northern Ireland, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Belfast. Commissioned Report pdf document. Advice on groundwater management and protection matters is available from the GSNI hydrogeologist or by contacting the Groundwater Team at NIEA. Further information on the hydrogeology of Northern Ireland is available in Hydrogeology of Northern Ireland, Robins N S (1997) and Hydrogeological Map of Northern Ireland, BGS 1994 both available from the BGS bookshop or from the GSNI office (note: the aquifer classification used on the 1994 hydrogeological published map differs from the classification shown on the GeoIndex layer). NOTE: When considering the distribution of aquifers within a certain area, reference should also be made to the superficials aquifer layer, available on this website. Enquiries British Geological Survey 028 9038 8462 028 9038 8461 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3SB United Kingdom gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk distributor Enquiries British Geological Survey 028 9038 8462 028 9038 8461 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3SB United Kingdom gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk pointOfContact Enquiries British Geological Survey 028 9038 8462 028 9038 8461 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3SB United Kingdom gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk user continual https://resources.bgs.ac.uk/images/geonetworkThumbs/9df8df53-2ab8-37a8-e044-0003ba9b0d98.png Geology GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Aquifers Hydrogeology Geology BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences 2022 revision UK Location (INSPIRE) dataCentre NERC_DDC otherRestrictions license Copyright acknowledgement required: Reproduced from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, with the permission of the Director.© Crown Copyright. formal permission to do something. Copyright acknowledgement required: Reproduced from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, with the permission of the Director.© Crown Copyright. otherRestrictions The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused. limitation not listed. Copyright acknowledgement required: Reproduced from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, with the permission of the Director.© Crown Copyright. formal permission to do something. Copyright acknowledgement required: Reproduced from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, with the permission of the Director.© Crown Copyright. grid 250000 English geoscientificInformation ISO 3166_1 alpha-3 2009 revision NIR British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus 1979 creation NORTHERN IRELAND [id=181000] -10.6400 -5.4100 51.3600 55.4400 2004 Enquiries British Geological Survey 028 9038 8462 028 9038 8461 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road BELFAST BT4 3SB United Kingdom gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk distributor https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link GSNI GeoIndex search dataset INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology 2011 publication See the referenced specification false Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF false This map layer shows the classification of bedrock, as mapped at 1:250 000 scale, into aquifer categories. This classification was initially undertaken to support groundwater assessments undertaken for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). The classification was produced on behalf of Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) (DoE, Northern Ireland) and is the standard classification currently used for assessing activities which may impact on groundwater resources. The classification comprises six categories of bedrock aquifer, based upon relative resource productivity and flow type.