Responsibility for the management and protection of groundwater resources lies with the Environment and Heritage Service (an Agency within the Department of the Environment).

Management and protection of the quantity and quality of groundwater is important to minimise unacceptable impacts on abstractions and water dependent features. Sustainable use of groundwater is recognised as necessary to ensure this important resource is available for present and future generations.

GSNI/BGS have assisted with the production by EHS of a 'Policy and Practice for the Protection of Groundwater in Northern Ireland'. This document sets out how EHS, as the body responsible for the overall protection of our water resources and water quality aims to address issues and activities that may affect groundwater. More information about this document is available from the EHS website.

Groundwater quality throughout Northern Ireland is currently being monitored by regular sampling of water from a network of boreholes and springs. This work will help confirm the natural background chemistry of groundwater and identify whether this natural water quality has been impacted by polluting activities.

A Groundwater Vulnerability Map for Northern Ireland at 1:250 000 is available from GSNI. It identifies areas where groundwater is more likely, or less likely, to be impacted from diffuse or point source pollution. This differentiation of the land is based upon the type of soils present and the underlying geology.