Research into groundwater and health at BGS is focused on a number of themes, such as the impact of urbanisation on groundwater quality in the developing world, and a range of water-quality issues, such as heavy metal concentrations and pathogens.
We work on groundwater and health both in the UK and internationally with a wide range of partners, including government departments and international aid agencies.
Sampling acid mine drainage at Parys Mountain mine, Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Wales. BGS © UKRI.
Groundwater and health research themes include:
- effects of industrial activity
- the impact of agriculture
- the impact of urbanisation in the developing world
Specific health risks
Specific health risks linked to contaminated groundwater include:
Bottled water from the British Isles
We published a survey of the inorganic chemistry of bottled water from the British Isles.
WaterAid factsheets
BGS and the WaterAid charity worked together to characterise the inorganic quality of groundwater in the countries in which WaterAid works.
The factsheets produced by BGS for WaterAid are:
- by country: these information sheets aim to identify inorganic constituents of risk to health that may be present in groundwater
- by element: these information sheets aim to explain the nature of the health risk for each element, their origin and occurrence in groundwater, the means of testing and available methods of mitigation
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In this section
Bottled water from the British Isles
BGS carried out a survey of the inorganic chemistry of bottled natural mineral waters and spring waters from across the British Isles.
Arsenic contamination of groundwater
Research into the groundwaters of high-arsenic aquifers across the world.
Fluoride in groundwater
High concentrations of fluoride in groundwater affect more than 200 million people worldwide.