WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 4 Classification 2025 (Simplified)
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. The geometry of this dataset has been simplified to allow for faster web mapping services. The full resolution of this dataset is called WFD Groundwater Bodies Cycle 4 Classification 2025 (Full Resolution). There is a layer file associated with this dataset. The layer file is called Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_C…
keyword: Cycle 4
keyword: Hydrography
keyword: WFD
keyword: environment
keyword: groundwater bodies
keyword: water management
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.815461
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.815464
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]]]}

Environment Agency
type: Organization

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
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817018
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804566

Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025.csv
type: Distribution
description: Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025.csv download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: CSV
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817020
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804646

Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx
type: Distribution
description: Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx download on Defra Data Services Platform
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817021
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804699

Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Download
type: Distribution
description: Download data by area of interest
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/explore/c947f1b8-9139-4e23-9d05-769bea99032e
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817022
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804743

Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_WMS
type: Distribution
description: Simplified wfd groundwater bodies cycle 4 classification 2025 - WMS
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/simplified-wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wms
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817022
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804786

Simplified_WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_WFS
type: Distribution
description: Simplified wfd groundwater bodies cycle 4 classification 2025 - WFS
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/simplified-wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wfs
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817023
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804826

OGC API - Features service
type: Distribution
description: OGC API - Features service
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/simplified-wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/ogc/features/v1
issued: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.817024
modified: 2026-08-07T08:58:39.804865