WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 4 Classification 2025 (Full Resolution)
type: Dataset
description: This is a polygon dataset showing Water Framework Directive (WFD) Groundwater Bodies. It shows major groundwater bodies (aquifers). This dataset provides attribution relating to the 2025 classification results, as well as other relevant information and data about each groundwater body. Article 2, clause 2 of the WFD defines groundwater bodies as '…all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil'. For the purposes of reporting under the WFD, a groundwater body represents a distinct body of groundwater flow with a coherent flow unit including recharge and discharge areas with little flow across the boundaries. These reflect hydrogeological characteristics containing information on flow and stage properties, recharge and vulnerability to pollution. This has been undertaken through defining aquifers into different types and broken into catchment units at Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) scale. The primary input dataset is '1:625K Classified Aquifer Geology' that has been constructed by the Environment Agency. This dataset has been digitised directly from the hard copy '1:250K Solid Geology Map', and classified according to aquifer type, and is therefore directly derived from the underlying BGS data. These classifications were verified by the British Geology Survey (BGS). The data has gone out for consultation at Area level, and in some instances 1:50K Solid Geology has been used to define localised boundaries. Ordnance Survey coastline data has been used when creating this dataset. The OS data used was from OS OpenMap - Local. There is a layer file associated with this dataset. The layer file is called WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx. The layer file displays the quantitative class for each groundwater body. Please note that there are limitations with the shapefile format of the data. The data applies to Cycle 4 of the WFD. Attribution sta…
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:38.185607
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.980081
spatial: Location
  geometry: {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[1.76370560966352, 49.8647926358421], [-6.41866722959945, 49.8647926358421], [-6.41866722959945, 55.8111151497005], [1.76370560966352, 55.8111151497005], [1.76370560966352, 49.8647926358421]]]}
keyword: Cycle 4
keyword: Hydrography
keyword: WFD
keyword: environment
keyword: groundwater bodies
keyword: water management

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.gpkg.zip
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.gpkg.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: ZIP
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055821
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997336
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.gdb.zip
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.gdb.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: ZIP
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055820
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997198
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

OGC API - Features service
type: Distribution
description: OGC API - Features service
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055827
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997603
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/ogc/features/v1

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Download
type: Distribution
description: Download data by area of interest
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055824
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997463
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/explore/1808a7bd-409a-4d41-a0e6-024726c09ca0

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.shp.zip
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.shp.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: ZIP
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055822
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997382
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx download on Defra Data Services Platform
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055823
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997423
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_WMS
type: Distribution
description: WFD groundwater bodies cycle 4 classification 2025 - WMS
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055825
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997502
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wms

Notes on Attribution for Groundwater Datasets July 2026.docx
type: Distribution
description: Notes on Attribution for Groundwater Datasets July 2026.docx download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: DOCX
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055816
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997065
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.geojson.zip
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Full_Resolution.geojson.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: ZIP
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055821
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997290
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_WFS
type: Distribution
description: WFD groundwater bodies cycle 4 classification 2025 - WFS
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055826
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997564
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wfs

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025.csv
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025.csv download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: CSV
issued: 2026-08-14T14:03:25.055819
modified: 2026-08-14T14:03:24.997147
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: text/csv

Environment Agency
type: Organization