Groundwater bodies at risk of failing to achieve good quantitative status

Groundwater bodies are at risk if they are used faster than they can recharge. This can lead to problems such as declining water levels, reduced river flows and deteriorating conditions in ecosystems dependent on groundwater.

Groundwater bodies at risk of failing to achieve good quantitative status need to be identified under the Water Framework Directive. This enables measures to be taken to ensure groundwater level is not diminished.

If a groundwater body currently has good status, but pressures put it at risk of becoming poor in the future, it is assessed as at risk. Pressures which could cause the groundwater body to fail quantitative status in the future include over-abstraction e.g. for drinking water, irrigation and industry, and changes in recharge conditions, which could affect its ability to maintain dependent ecosystems.