Quality and protection
The quality of groundwater determines its value as a resource and how it affects surface-water ecosystems. BGS researches all aspects of groundwater quality, from assessing natural chemical variations and their controls and effects to the effects of pollution from agriculture, industry and urban sources. The scope of our pollution research ranges from long-established and legacy contaminants (for example, nitrates; trace metals; microorganisms) to new and emerging contaminants (like pharmaceutical compounds).
Collecting a water chemistry sample from piezometer SGA3. A 12V submersible pump is being used to remove water from the sand and gravel borehole. The boreholes and piezometers were all installed to help understand groundwater flow to Wybunbury Moss in Cheshire, England. All borehole logs are on the BGS database. This borehole is Wybunbury Moss SGA3. BGS © UKRI.
We collaborate with government departments, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry to contribute to process understanding in groundwater quality and support efforts to protect and regulate groundwater resources, both in the UK and overseas.
Key resources
- Baseline reports (England, Wales and Scotland)
- Shale gas
- Nitrate time bomb
- Water quality factsheets produced by BGS for WaterAid by country and by element
Contact
Please contact BGS Enquiries for further information.
Baseline chemistry of groundwater in UK aquifers
Characterising the baseline chemistry of Great Britain’s groundwaters.
