Groundwater Bacterioplankton and Chemistry in Three English Aquifers, 2022-2023

Groundwater samples from three major English aquifers were analyzed for planktonic bacterial quantity, fluorescent organic matter, and nutrient concentrations. The dataset captures spatial variation across sandstone, chalk, and limestone aquifers and seasonal variation between pre-recharge (September-October 2022) and post-recharge (January-February 2023) periods. Data collection aimed to assess bacterioplankton distribution dependence on organic matter, nutrients, and local hydrogeology.

Use Cases

• Analyze seasonal variation in planktonic bacterial quantity between pre-recharge and post-recharge sampling periods across aquifer types.
• Model the dependence of groundwater bacterioplankton distribution on fluorescent organic matter and nutrient concentration measurements.
• Assess spatial variation in water chemistry and microbiology across the intergranular sandstone, dual porosity chalk, and karstic limestone aquifers.

Strengths

• Sampling designed to capture both spatial variation across three distinct aquifer types and seasonal variation across two time periods.
• Data collection targeted specific analytical features: planktonic bacterial quantity, fluorescent organic matter, and nutrient concentrations.
• Samples were collected from untreated groundwater at drinking water pumping stations, providing direct environmental measurements.

Limitations

• Sample size and number of rows are unknown, limiting assessment of statistical power for spatial and temporal analysis.
• Limited temporal coverage to two discrete sampling seasons, preventing analysis of continuous or long-term trends.
• Geographic scope is restricted to three aquifer regions in England, limiting generalizability to other geological settings.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

Untreated groundwater samples collected from drinking water pumping stations in three aquifer types.

Time Range

September-October 2022 and January-February 2023

Freshness

Data last updated in March 2026, with primary collection occurring in 2022-2023.

Geography

Three major aquifers in England: intergranular sandstone (English Midlands and East Midlands), dual porosity chalk (South East England), and karstic limestone (the Cotswolds).