WFD Groundwaterbodies Cycle 1

WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 1 is a polygon Shapefile dataset containing attributes that have been collated as defined for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). ie '…all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil'. For the purposes of reporting under the WFD a groundwater body represent a distinct body of groundwater flow with a coherent flow unit including recharge and discharge areas with little flow across the boundaries. These reflect hydrogeological characteristics containing information on flow and stage properties, recharge and vulnerability to pollution. This has been undertaken through defining aquifers into different types and broken into catchment units at Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) scale. The primary input dataset is '1:625K Classified Aquifer Geology' that has been constructed by the Environment Agency. This dataset has been digitised directly from the hard copy '1:250K Solid Geology Map' and classified according to aquifer type and are therefore directly derived from the underlying BGS data. These classifications were verified by the British Geology Survey (BGS). These data have gone out for consultation at Area level and in some instances 1:50K Solid Geology has been used to define localised boundaries. This dataset was previously known as WFD Groundwaterbodies. Water bodies are attributed with a unique identifier ‘EA_WB_ID' (equivalent to WB_ID in Cycle 2) so this dataset can be linked directly to other WFD data sources such as physical characteristics, risk, classification and proposed objectives as well as Cycle 2 datasets. This dataset covers the layer for Cycle 1 of the Water Framework Directive. The equivalent layer for Cycle 2 is covered under WFD Groundwater bodies Cycle 2. Please note that the Environment Agency no longer provide data for water bodies in Wales - this should now available from Natural Resources Wales.