The BGS collect groundwater level data in many of our research projects, and we host the National Groundwater Level Archive, the national repository for groundwater level data.
We are currently working to make groundwater level data available via this website. You can view information on a limited number of sites.
View the data summary and hydrograph through the map above, or view the list of sites with groundwater level data in the table below.
| WellMaster ID | Grid Reference | Location | Aquifer |
|---|---|---|---|
| NX97/2 | 2951 5788 | Newbridge | Permo-Triassic Sandstone |
| NY63/2 | 3613 5325 | Skirwith | Permo-Triassic Sandstone |
| NZ21/29 | 4252 5199 | Swan House | Magnesian Limestone |
| SD27/6B | 3216 4717 | Furness Abbey | Permo-Triassic Sandstone |
| SE94/5 | 4965 4453 | Dalton Holme | Chalk |
| SE95/6 | 4957 4593 | Wetwang | Chalk |
| SJ15/13 | 3137 3555 | Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd | Permo-Triassic Sandstone |
| SK15/16 | 4129 3554 | Alstonefield | Carboniferous Limestone |
| SK17/13 | 4177 3775 | Hucklow South | Carboniferous Limestone |
| SP00/62 | 4059 2019 | Ampney Crucis | Middle Jurassic |
| ST88/62A | 3827 1874 | Didmarton 1 | Inferior Oolite |
| SU01/5B | 4016 1194 | West Woodyates Manor | Chalk |
| SU17/57 | 4165 1717 | Rockley | Chalk |
| SU34/8D | 4322 1490 | Clanville Lodge Gate | Chalk |
| SU78/45A | 4741 1892 | Stonor Park | Chalk |
| SU81/1 | 4835 1143 | Chilgrove House | Chalk |
| SX99/37B | 2952 0987 | Bussels No. 7A | Permo-Triassic Sandstone |
| SY68/34 | 3661 0880 | Ashton Farm | Chalk |
| TA10/63 | 5194 4071 | Aylesby | Chalk |
| TF03/37 | 5088 3303 | New Red Lion | Lincolnshire Limestone |
| TF81/2A | 5813 3196 | Washpit Farm | Chalk |
| TL33/4 | 5333 2372 | Therfield Rectory | Chalk |
| TQ25/86 | 5258 1552 | Chipstead GWL (Well House Inn) | Chalk |
| TQ41/82 | 5437 1132 | Lower Barn Cottage | Lower Greensand |
| TR14/9 | 6122 1469 | Little Bucket Farm | Chalk |
| TV59/7C | 5529 0992 | West Dean No. 3 | Chalk |
Why monitor groundwater levels?
Groundwater level, as measured in an observation borehole, reflects the amount of water in storage in the monitored aquifer. When recharge exceeds natural discharge plus abstraction, groundwater levels rise.
When recharge is less than natural discharge plus abstraction, groundwater levels fall.
Comparisons of measured groundwater levels with long-term averages provide an indication of the state of groundwater resources within an aquifer. Observation over several years allows the prediction of aquifer response to current climatic and hydrological conditions.
The data from the archive are used to prepare archive products such as the monthly hydrological summaries, annual summaries and the statistics volume. The data are used for quantitative analyses, for instance of annual recharge, and provide a valuable source of data for the calibration of groundwater models.
How are groundwater levels measured?
Groundwater levels are measured manually using a dipper or automatically by a pressure transducer. Automatic readings may be stored in a datalogger that is visited periodically and downloaded by field staff, or sent automatically over the phone network to a database in a data centre (telemetry). However, errors in groundwater level measurement can occur.