Groundwater Protection Schemes
Many of the links below take you to parts of the Groundwater Protection Schemes Guidelines Document (DELG/EPA/GSI, 1999). The full document can be read at the link highlighted or downloaded by clicking here. Note that the file size is large (1.4Mb) and downloading may take some time, depending on your web connection. Alternatively hard copies can be ordered through the post by e-mailing gsisales@gsi.ie (price €6.35). It is suggested you read the shorter text below, then refer to the main document for more detail, or the individual links for expansion on any one topic.
General Principles
Groundwater Protection Schemes are county-based projects that are undertaken jointly between the GSI and the respective Local Authority.
The overall aim of the groundwater protection scheme is to preserve the quality of groundwater, particularly for drinking water purposes, for the benefit of present and future generations. The scheme is not intended to have any statutory authority, but provides a framework for decision-making and guidelines for the Local Authorities in carrying out their functions. Since 2003, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has recommended that groundwater protection schemes are incorporated into County Development Plans (Circular Letter SP 5/03 – Groundwater Protection and the Planning System).
The groundwater protection scheme comprises two components:
i) A land surface zoning map (or maps) called the groundwater protection zone map.
ii) Groundwater protection responses for existing and new potentially polluting activities.
The role of the GSI is in the production of the land surface zoning map, whereas decisions on groundwater protection responses are the responsibility of the statutory authorities.
The risk to groundwater is defined through assessments of Groundwater Vulnerability, Aquifer potential, and Source Protection Areas. Datasets of vulnerability, aquifer potential, and source protection areas are generated by the GSI using field mapping in combination with readily available existing information and a limited amount of targeted drilling and testing. The vulnerability and aquifer datasets cover the entire land surface of a given area, while the source protection area datasets are specific to the catchments of selected groundwater supply sources. The three datasets are merged to produce Groundwater Protection Zones. Each zone is represented by a code (e.g. Rf/H), which enables an assessment of the risk to groundwater, independent of any particular hazard or contaminant type. This assessment should be regarded as a guide in evaluating the likely suitability of an area for a proposed activity prior to site investigations.
Once the groundwater protection zone is defined for an area, the hazards posed by selected human activities can be evaluated to assess the appropriate risk management measures, or Groundwater Protection Responses, for these activities. The Groundwater Protection Responses, which are shown by a code (e.g. R2¹), indicate the likely degree of acceptability of each activity in that Groundwater Protection Zone. The full explanatory text for these response codes describes the investigations and planning or licensing conditions that may be necessary in order to make a balanced, pragmatic, scientifically defensible decision. Currently available codes cover:
For details of Protection schemes completed and underway click here.
Disclaimer
The entire data set is designed for general information and strategic planning usage. The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) makes no warranties on its fitness for any other purpose. The burden for determining fitness for other uses lies with the user. Information supplied is based on the material available in GSI at the time of production and should not be regarded as complete data on the elements or areas being considered. Furthermore, uncertainty is an inherent element in drawing geological boundaries and local details are generalised to fit the original mapping and interpretation scale of 1:50,000. Evaluation of specific sites and circumstances will normally require further and more detailed assessments, and will often require site investigations.
It is intended that statutory authorities should apply a scheme in decision-making on the basis that the best available data are being used. The onus is then on a developer to provide new information which would enable the zonation to be altered and improved and, in certain circumstances, the planning or regulatory response to be changed.