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Enviro + Geo Insight - GIS schema: Hydrogeology

The information below details all definition of each of the layers in the Hydrogeology group within the GeoPackage, defining each data layer, the attributes of the data and their data types, as well as the definitions for any values that use look up tables

Bedrock aquifer

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Principal_Bedrock_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the bedrock geology with a Principal aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have high intergranular and/or fracture permeability - meaning they usually provide a high level of water storage. They may support water supply and/or river base flow on a strategic scale. In most cases, principal aquifers are aquifers previously designated as major aquifers.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-SecondaryA_Bedrock_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the bedrock geology with a Secondary A aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have a wide range of water permeability and storage. These are permeable layers capable of supporting water supplies at a local rather than strategic scale, and in some cases forming an important source of base flow to rivers. These are generally aquifers formerly classified as minor aquifers.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-SecondaryB_Bedrock_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the bedrock geology with a Secondary B aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have a wide range of water permeability and storage. These are predominantly lower permeability layers which may store and yield limited amounts of groundwater due to localised features such as fissures, thin permeable horizons and weathering. These are generally the water-bearing parts of the former non-aquifers.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Secondary_Bedrock_Aquifer_Undifferentiated_Layers_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the bedrock geology with a Secondary Undifferentiated aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have a wide range of water permeability and storage. Undifferentiated has been assigned in cases where it has not been possible to attribute either category A or B to a rock type. In most cases, this means that the layer in question has previously been designated as both minor and non-aquifer in different locations due to the variable characteristics of the rock type.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Unproductive_Bedrock_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for bedrock geology with an Unproductive Strata aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits with low permeability that have negligible significance for water supply or river base flow.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Groundwater abstractions

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Groundwater_Vulnerability_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset of groundwater vulnerability to a pollutant discharged at ground level based on the hydrological, geological, hydrogeological and soil properties within a one kilometre square grid for England and Wales mapped at 1:50,000. The data displays the type of aquifer (bedrock and/or superficial) and aquifer designation status (Principal, Secondary, Unproductive). Groundwater vulnerability is also split into 3 categories High, Medium or Low as follows; High - Areas able to easily transmit pollution to groundwater usually high leaching soils and the absence of low permeability superficial deposits; Medium - Intermediate between high and low vulnerability; Low - Areas that provide the greatest protection from pollution usually low leaching soils and/or the presence of superficial deposits characterised by a low permeability.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
comb_vuln Varchar (254)
overall_type Varchar (254)
soil_v Varchar (254)
bfi_v Varchar (254)
dilution_v Varchar (254)
sf_vuln_v Varchar (254)
sf_aq_type Varchar (254)
drift_th_v Varchar (254)
driftpat_v Varchar (254)
pot_rech_v Varchar (254)
br_vuln_v Varchar (254)
br_aq_type Varchar (254)
flow_v Varchar (254)
gvw_id Varchar (50)

Groundwater vulnerability - local information

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Groundwater_Vulnerability_Local_Information_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset provided by the British Geological Survey, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, and identifies areas where additional local information affecting vulnerability is held by the Environment Agency. 

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
gwv_id Varchar (50)
li_present Varchar (5)
reason Varchar (150)
info Varchar (250)

Groundwater vulnerability - soluble rock risk

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Groundwater_Vulnerability_Soluble_Rock_BGS

This is a polygon based dataset provided by the British Geological Survey, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. The dataset identifies areas where solution features that enable rapid movement of a pollutant may be present within a 1km grid square across England and Wales.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
max_risk_text Varchar (300)
maxsrr_are  

Source protection zones

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Source_Protection_Zones_EA_NRW

This is a polygon based dataset that defines the boundaries of Source Protection Zones (SPZs) around large public drinking groundwater abstraction sites in England and Wales. SPZs are intended to help safeguard drinking water quality by controlling the proximity of an activity that could have an impact on a drinking water abstraction. SPZs are defined by groundwater travel time to an abstraction which is modelled by the Environment Agency. The SPZs are broken down into

  • Zone 1 (Inner Protection Zone - area immediately around an abstraction point for domestic supply or for food production purposes),
  • Zone 2 (Outer Protection Zone - an area around an abstraction point for domestic supply or for food production purposes),
  • Zone 3 (Total Catchment - the area where it takes up to 400 days for groundwater that is used to supply water for domestic or food production to travel).

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
spz Integer
description Varchar (30)

Source Protection Zones (confined aquifer)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Source_Protection_Zones_ConfinedAquifers_EA_NRW

This is a polygon based dataset extracted from the Source Protection Zones (SPZs) dataset of all areas defined as confined source protection zones. These are areas protected by overlying geology, such as clay, and are only considered a sensitive resource if deep excavation/drilling is taking place. Confined SPZs (protective geology cover e.g. clay) are denoted as 1c, 2c and 3c. Zone 4 (Zone of Special Interest) can also be designated in areas where known local conditions mean that potentially polluting activities could impact on a groundwater source, even though the area is outside the normal catchment of that source and are mainly in non-aquifers

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
spz Integer
description Varchar (30)

Superficial aquifer

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Principal_Superficial_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the superficial deposits with a Principal aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have high intergranular and/or fracture permeability - meaning they usually provide a high level of water storage. They may support water supply and/or river base flow on a strategic scale. In most cases, principal aquifers are aquifers previously designated as major aquifers.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-SecondaryA_Superficial_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the superficial deposits with a Secondary A aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have a wide range of water permeability and storage. These are permeable layers capable of supporting water supplies at a local rather than strategic scale, and in some cases forming an important source of base flow to rivers. These are generally aquifers formerly classified as minor aquifers

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-SecondaryB_Superficial_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the superficial deposits with a Secondary B aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits that have a wide range of water permeability and storage. These are predominantly lower permeability layers which may store and yield limited amounts of groundwater due to localised features such as fissures, thin permeable horizons and weathering. These are generally the water-bearing parts of the former non-aquifers.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Secondary_Superficial_Aquifer_Undifferentiated_Layers_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the superficial deposits with a Secondary Undifferentiated aquifer status. Undifferentiated has been assigned in cases where it has not been possible to attribute either category A or B to a rock type. In most cases, this means that the layer in question has previously been designated as both minor and non-aquifer in different locations due to the variable characteristics of the rock type.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Unknown_Superficial_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:5,000. This extract is specifically for aquifers within the superficial deposits where their classification has not been determined.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Unproductive_Superficial_Aquifer_BGS

This is an extract from the joint BGS/Environment Agency dataset "Aquifer Designations" for England and Wales at 1:50,000. This extract is specifically for superficial deposits with an Unproductive Strata aquifer status and is defined as layers of rock or drift deposits with low permeability that have negligible significance for water supply or river base flow.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
designatio Varchar (50)
description Varchar (254)

Groundwater abstractions

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Groundwater_Abstractions_EA_NRW

Licensed groundwater abstractions for sites extracting more than 20 cubic metres of water a day and includes active and historical records. The data may be for a single abstraction point, between two points (line data) or a larger area (polygon).

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
licence_status Varchar (20)
licence_no Varchar (35)
use_description Varchar (200)
source_name Varchar (100)
point_name Varchar (100)
data_type Varchar (10)
name Varchar (100)
easting_1_cartesian Integer
northing_1_cartesian Integer
max_annual_qty Varchar (20)
max_daily_qty Varchar (20)
original_application_no Varchar (40)
orig_effective_date Varchar (50)
expiry_date Varchar (50)
issue_no Varchar (15)
version_start_date Varchar (19)
version_end_date Varchar (19)

Potable abstractions

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Potable_Abstractions_EA_NRW

Licensed potable water abstractions for sites extracting more than 20 cubic metres of water a day and includes active and historical records. The data may be for a single abstraction point, a stretch of watercourse or a larger area.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
licence_status Varchar (20)
licence_no Varchar (35)
use_description Varchar (200)
source_name Varchar (100)
point_name Varchar (100)
data_type Varchar (10)
name Varchar (100)
easting_1_cartesian Integer
northing_1_cartesian Integer
max_annual_qty Varchar (20)
max_daily_qty Varchar (20)
original_application_no Varchar (40)
orig_effective_date Varchar (50)
expiry_date Varchar (50)
issue_no Varchar (15)
version_start_date Varchar (19)
version_end_date Varchar (19)

Surface water abstractions

Layer name: Hydrogeology-Surface_Water_Abstractions_EA_NRW

Licensed surface water abstractions for sites extracting more than 20 cubic metres of water a day and includes active and historical records. The data may be for a single abstraction point, a stretch of watercourse or a larger area.

Geometry: Polygon

Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales

Schema: 

Column name Data type
gs_id Integer
licence_status Varchar (20)
licence_no Varchar (35)
use_description Varchar (200)
source_name Varchar (100)
point_name Varchar (100)
data_type Varchar (10)
name Varchar (100)
easting_1_cartesian Integer
northing_1_cartesian Integer
max_annual_qty Varchar (20)
max_daily_qty Varchar (20)
original_application_no Varchar (40)
orig_effective_date Varchar (50)
expiry_date Varchar (50)
issue_no Varchar (15)
version_start_date Varchar (19)
version_end_date Varchar (19)