9df8df53-2aba-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 2026-05-24 UK GEMINI 2.3 http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605504 TM65 / Irish National Grid (EPSG::29900) GSNI GeoIndex Groundwater vulnerability screening layer 2001 creation http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605504 This map layer represents an assessment of the vulnerability of groundwater within the uppermost aquifer. 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. Vulnerability has been primarily determined based upon the assumed permeability and thickness of geological deposits overlying the strata containing the upper, significant water table. Where these deposits are absent, the depth to water table can influence the vulnerability class. The methodology is described in Ball D, McConvey P and Campbell E 2005. A groundwater vulnerability screening methodology for Northern Ireland. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report CR/05/103N -pdf document. Since this original layer production in 2005 some further modifications have been made to this regional layer, details of which can be obtained from the GSNI hydrogeologist if required. Five classes of vulnerability have been mapped: Highest:Five Lowest:One Class4 can be further subdivided according to the nature of the pathway: 4a sand and gravel cover (non-aquifer) 4b moderate permeability cover 4c low permeability cover 4d thin soil over bedrock 4e where superficial aquifers are present POINT RECHARGE SCENARIOS Within 30 m of mapped features of point recharge (e.g karst features and mine shafts), vulnerability is always category Five. The representation of vulnerability is intended to be used as a first pass assessment of relative vulnerability across the map layer area. It allows an understanding to be gained of where groundwater is more or less vulnerable to surface or near-surface activities where pollutants could be released and, as such, can help with strategic assessments as well as initial consideration of specific developments, activities or pollution events. Due to natural geological variability and data availability, this map cannot and is not intended to represent actual conditions on a site specific scale. Parameters used for determining vulnerability class are based on average values or broad ranges and local variation, which does commonly occur, is not represented. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) makes no warranties on this map layers use for such more detailed assessments. The burden for determining fitness for such uses lies with the user. Where consideration of vulnerability of groundwater and the local groundwater resource is required for a specific site or location, then it is recommended that more detailed hydrogeological investigation be carried out. This will normally involve some form of intrusive investigation, such as trial-pitting or drilling. Information supplied is based on the material available to GSNI at the time of production and should not be regarded as complete data on the elements or areas being considered. Furthermore, uncertainty is an inherent element in drawing geological boundaries and local details are generalised in some cases. The nature of the receiving aquifer is not represented in the vulnerability class and as such, the significance with respect to potential impact on the groundwater resource is not addressed on this map layer. An aquifer map layer is also available for Northern Ireland at 1:250 000 scale and should normally also be consulted when using this map layer. The methodology used does not consider the physicochemical make up of any specific pollutant type, which will have an influence on how it is attenuated or otherwise along the pathway to the water table. 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/9df8df53-2aba-37a8-e044-0003ba9b0d98.png Geology GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Groundwater Ground water management Geology Hydrogeology 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 50000 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 2001 This screening layer for groundwater vulnerability does not take into account the nature of the underlying receiving aquifer with respect to resource value or significance of pollution occurring. In this screening layer, the vulnerability class above a highly productive dual-porosity aquifer and a very limited productivity fracture flow aquifer may be the same but the consequences of pollution occurring may be quite different with respect to spread of pollutants along groundwater flowpaths and impacts on receptors such as abstraction boreholes and groundwater-fed surface waters. Hence the use of this screening layer within any regional or catchment analysis must be carefully considered. Further advice on this matter is available from GSNI. 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) 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 represents an assessment of the vulnerability of groundwater within the uppermost aquifer. 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. Vulnerability has been primarily determined based upon the assumed permeability and thickness of geological deposits overlying the strata containing the upper, significant water table. Where these deposits are absent, the depth to water table can influence the vulnerability class. The methodology is described in Ball D, McConvey P and Campbell E 2005. A groundwater vulnerability screening methodology for Northern Ireland. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report CR/05/103N - pdf document.