dataset · United Kingdom
Groundwater Levels
The BGS groundwater levels dataset is a gridded interpolation of depth to groundwater. The dataset is a raster grid, with 50 × 50 metre pixels holding values that represent the probable maximum depth, in metres, to the phreatic water table. This represents the likely lowest water level, under natural conditions, in an open well or borehole drilled into the uppermost parts of a rock unit. The dataset has been modelled from topography and hydrology, assuming that surface water and groundwater are
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Licence: ["The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in an
Evidence quality: 40.7
Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- depth to groundwater (modelled probable maximum depth to the phreatic water table, m)
- Coverage docs-verified
- Bounding box: latitude 49.82° to 61.00°, longitude -8.00° to 2.00° (United Kingdom)
- Resolution docs-verified
- 50 m × 50 m raster pixels (spatial only; no temporal resolution)
- Update frequency docs-verified
- As needed (no fixed schedule)
- Access docs-verified
- Licence not set on listing. BGS/NERC access constraints apply: no reproduction or transmission without prior permission of the copyright holder. Use at customer's own risk.
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Groundwater flooding screening in flood risk assessments using depth to groundwater as a susceptibility input · Preliminary groundwater depth screening for foundation, basement and excavation risk · Groundwater constraint input for SuDS infiltration feasibility at desk-study stage
- Audience llm-inferred
- flood risk consultants · hydrogeologists · geotechnical engineers · drainage engineers · planners · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints docs-verified
- Modelled surface, not direct well or borehole observations; observations were used only to validate performance · Represents the likely lowest water level under natural conditions, not current or measured levels · Assumes surface water and groundwater are hydraulically connected · Dataset reference date is 2015-05-01; updates are as needed with no fixed schedule · Licence not set on listing; NERC gives no warranty on accuracy or suitability and accepts no liability
Evidence
- https://www.bgs.ac.uk/datasets/depth-to-groundwater/
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/053cd3c6-276b-4c04-95b2-178f5f473426/groundwater-levels1
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.