Ouse Upper Bedford Chalk Operational Catchment
Water bodies
There are 1 water bodies in this operational catchment.
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About
The Upper Bedford Ouse Chalk is a Principal aquifer and a Drinking water Protected Area. The Chalk is at outcrop across most of the groundwater body, groundwater flow is usually rapid and fracture flow is dominant. The aquifer is therefore particularly vulnerable to any potentially polluting activity at the surface. It is utilised heavily for public water supplies and businesses throughout the area, as well as industrial, agricultural and small private domestic supplies. Base flow from the aquifer supports many of the surface water bodies across the outcrop.
![Diagram of a typical hydrogeological setting of a groundwater catchment like the Upper Bedford Ouse Chalk](/catchment-planning/photos/operationalcatchment/1247.jpg)