Water Framework Directive (WFD) Groundwater bodies Cycle 1

A spatial polygon dataset defining groundwater bodies for the first reporting cycle under the EU Water Framework Directive. The data, collated by the Government Digital Service, contains attributes for implementing the WFD, including flow properties, recharge, and pollution vulnerability. Each groundwater body is a distinct flow unit with a unique identifier (EA_WB_ID) for linking to other WFD data sources.

Use Cases

• Map groundwater flow and vulnerability to pollution based on described hydrogeological characteristics.
• Link groundwater status and risk assessments using the unique EA_WB_ID mentioned in the description.
• Analyze groundwater body delineations at the Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) scale described.
• Model recharge and discharge areas for coherent groundwater flow units as defined in the WFD.

Strengths

• Data is structured for direct linkage to other WFD sources via the unique EA_WB_ID.
• Attributes are defined according to the legal framework of the EU Water Framework Directive.
• Spatial delineation reflects coherent hydrogeological units, including recharge and discharge areas.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and last update date are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Collated as defined for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, through defining aquifers into types and breaking them into catchment units.

Time Range

Cycle 1 of WFD reporting, but specific temporal coverage is unknown.

Freshness

Last updated date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

Likely covers areas under the EU Water Framework Directive, but specific geography is not stated.