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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.516985
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_Quantitative_Class.lyrx
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Quantitative_Class.lyrx download on Defra Data Services Platform
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613212
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537689
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download

OGC API - Features service
type: Distribution
description: OGC API - Features service
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613214
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537843
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.csv
type: Distribution
description: WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025.csv download on Defra Data Services Platform
format: CSV
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613208
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537469
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: text/csv

WFD_Groundwater_Bodies_Cycle_4_Classification_2025_Download
type: Distribution
description: Download data by area of interest
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613212
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537727
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/explore/1808a7bd-409a-4d41-a0e6-024726c09ca0

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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613210
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537564
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613211
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537648
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613206
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537395
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_WMS
type: Distribution
description: WFD groundwater bodies cycle 4 classification 2025 - WMS
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613213
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537766
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wms

Explore the Environment Agency's Water Hub
type: Distribution
description: Explore the Environment Agency's Water Hub
issued: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613215
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537882
access URL: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/understanding-englands-water-environment

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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613209
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537518
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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613214
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537804
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/wfd-groundwater-bodies-cycle-4-classification-2025/wfs

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: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.613210
modified: 2026-08-27T15:31:41.537606
access URL: https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download
media type: application/zip

Environment Agency
type: Organization