A Groundwater Protection Scheme provides guidelines for the planning and licensing authorities in carrying out their functions, and a framework to assist in decision-making on the location, nature and control of developments and activities in order to protect groundwater. Use of a scheme will help to ensure that within the planning and licensing processes due regard is taken of the need to maintain the beneficial use of groundwater.

Groundwater Protection Schemes are county-based projects that are undertaken jointly between the GSI and the respective Local Authority. The groundwater protection scheme comprises two components:

• A land surface zoning map (or maps) called the groundwater protection zone map, and
• 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:

• Landfill, download PDF 
• IPC Land spreading, download PDF 
• On-site wastewater treatment systems (e.g. septic tanks), download PDF 
• Out wintering pads, download PDF 
• Earth-lined slurry stores, download PDF 

Further details are available from the Groundwater Protection Schemes report published by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland .  

Groundwater Protection Scheme Reports are available for certain counties to download as PDFs in the table below. The reports summarise the hydrogeology, aquifers, groundwater vulnerability and the groundwater use in a county at the time of the study.  Groundwater Water Quality Reports  give an overview of the main water quality issues in each county at the time of reporting. Please note N/A indicates Not Available.

​County	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Carlow	​N/A	N/A​
​Cavan	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Clare	Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Cork North	​N/A	N/A​
​Cork South	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Cork West	​N/A	N/A​
​Donegal	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​N/A
​Dublin	​N/A	N/A​
​Galway	​N/A	N/A​
​Kerry	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	N/A
​Kildare	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	N/A
​Kilkenny	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Laois	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Leitrim	​N/A	N/A​
​Limerick	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	N/A
​Longford	​N/A	N/A​
Louth	​N/A	​N/A
​Mayo	​N/A	N/A​
​Meath	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​N/A
​Monaghan	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Offaly	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Roscommon	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Sligo	​N/A	N/A​
​Tipperary North	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report
​Tipperary South	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​N/A
​Waterford	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	N/A
​Westmeath	​N/A	N/A​
​Wexford	​N/A	N/A​
​Wicklow	​Groundwater Protection Scheme Report	​Water Quality Report

Source Protection Zone delineation provides an assessment of the land area that contributes groundwater to a borehole or spring. 

• Source reports have been undertaken by Geological Survey Ireland on behalf of Local Authorities since the mid 1990’s. Since then, more than 120  have been completed.
• A further 40 were completed by a CDM/TOBIN/OCM project team for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish Groundwater Source Protection Zones (SPZs) at monitoring points in the EPA’s National Groundwater Quality Network. These SPZs represent a continuation of GSI’s work, and follow the principles and methodologies set out in ‘Groundwater Protection Schemes’ (DELG/EPA/GSI, 1999) and in the GSI/EPA/IGI Training course on Groundwater Source Protection Zone Delineation (2007, 2009).
• Other reports commissioned by Local Authorities from hydrogeological consultants are available from the relevant Local Authorities. 

The available reports are listed below in alphabetic order for each county.

Please note:

• GWS stands for Group Water Scheme
• N/A indicates Not Available
• PWS stands for Public Water Supply
• RWSS stand for Regional Water Supply Scheme
• SPZ stands for Source Protection Zone

 Should you have any query in relation to these reports, email groundwaterinfo@gsi.ie .

​County	Source Protection Report​ (link to PDF)
​Carlow	​N/A
​Cavan	​Ballyconnell Lough Cuillaghan PWS Ballymachugh SPZ Bawnboy SPZ Kingscourt Descart Boreholes SPZ Kingscourt Mullantra Borehole SPZ
​Clare	​Ballyvaughan SPZ Ennis Drumcliff Spring SPZ Ennis Pouladower Spring SPZ (not in use) Scarriff SPZ Whitegate SPZ
​Cork	Fermoy PWS Coolroe Infiltration Gallery and Borehole
​Cork North	​Castletwonroche PWSS Conna (village bore) PWS Glanworth PWS Ballykenly Spring (Tobermore) Kildorrery PWS Glenavuddig Bridge Kilworth PWS Downing Bridge Mitchelstown (South) SPZ Mountnorth Spring and Borehole RWSS Oliver’s Cross PWSS Shanballymore Spring Cork North West (Doneraile) SPZ Watergrasshill PWS
​Cork South	​Ballinspittle Garrettstown PWS Carrig na bFhear SPZ Carrignadoura SPZ Cloyne Aghada PWS Coachford PWS Crookstown (Bellmount BH2) SPZ Crookstown (Pound Cross BH1) SPZ Dower Spring (Whitegate RWSS) Grenagh PWS Minane Bridge PWS Robert’s Cove PWS
​Donegal	​Ballyshannon PWS Carndonagh PWS Culdaff PWS Fanad North (Tri a Lough) Magherabeg Veagh PWS Pettigo PWS
​Dublin	​Bog of the Ring PWS
​Galway	​Dunmore Glenamaddy WSS Kilkerrin PWS MidGalway PWS Mountbellew PWS
​Kerry	​Ardfert South Borehole PWS Ballyheigue PWS
​Kildare	​Athy UDC WS Castlemitchell Churchtown Supply PWS Curragh Camp PWS Johnstown PWS Kilkea PWS Kilteel GWS Lipstown Narraghmore GWS Monasterevin PWS Rathangan PWS Robertstown PWS USK Gormanstown GWS
​Kilkenny	​Ballyconra Boreholes Glanbia (Ballyragget) SPZ Bennettsbridge PWS Callan PWS Clifden Clara Boreholes SPZ Cuffesgrange Boreholes SPZ Glenmore PWS Graighenamanagh PWS Paulstown PWS Piltown Fiddown PWS Thomastown PWS Urlingford Johnstown PWS
​Laois	​Ballyroan SPZ Cullahill SPZ Durrow (Convent) WSS Fermoyle PWS Knocks SPZ Kyle and Orchard Springs (Stradbally Ballylynan & Timahoe) PWS Lough PWS Portarlington WSS Killenard GWS Mountmellick Derrygile SPZ Portlaoise Meelick PWS Swan PWS
​Leitrim	​N/A
​Limerick	​Ardagh Ballingarry PWS Ballyagran Bruff PWS Bruree PWS Cappamore Faileen Bilboa PWS Cappamore SPZ Carrigkerry PWS Clouncagh PWS Croom PWS Doon Cooga Spring SPZ Fedamore PWS Glin PWS (not in use) Herberstown PWS Hospital PWS Kilcoleman PWS Knocklong Church Road (Borehole BH2) SPZ Knocklong Field (Borehole BH1) SPZ Martinstown Ballinvreena SPZ Mortlestown PWS Murroe PWS Pallasgreen (New) PWS Rockhill SPZ Tobergal (SW Region) PWS
​Longford	​Newtown Cashel Spring SPZ
​Louth	​Ardee Curraghbeg Borehole PWS Ardtullybeg PWS Ballymakenny Boreholes GWS Collon Boreholes PWS Cooley Carlingford Boreholes PWS Drybridge Borehole PWS Killineer Borehole PWS Omeath Esmore Bridge Borehole PWS Omeath Lislea Cross Borehole PWS Termonfeckin Borehole PWS
​Mayo	​Killasser Springs SPZ Kilmaine PWS Swinford PWS and Killaturly GWS
​Meath	​Athboy Ballivor Curragha Dunboyne Dunshaughlin Enfield Borehole SPZ Longwood Borehole SPZ Nobber Slane Trim Borehole SPZ
​Monaghan	​Clones PWS Scotshouse Boreholes Monaghan PWS
​Offaly	​Agall Spring SPZ Ballinagar GWS and Geashill PWS Ballyboy GWS Banagher WSS Clontotan Boreholes Clonbulloge PWS Daingean PWS Dunkerrin PWS (Jone’s Well) Dunkerrin PWS (Village Well) Edenderry Kishawanny Bridge Borehole Ferbane PWS Hollimshill PWS Kilcormac PWS Killeigh and Meelaghans GWS Killeigh Danganbeg Spring GWS Kinnity PWS Ballyshane Bridge Lisduff Dunkerrin PWS Lisduff Well Lisduff Dunkerrin PWS Guilfoyles Well Moneygall PWS Mountlucas GWS Rath Shinrone Niamh’s Well Boreholes Toberdaly PWS Tullamore Ardan Boreholes Tully Walsh Island PWS
​Roscommon	​Ballinlough WSS Ballybane Springs Boyle Ardcarn Rockingham Spring Castlerea WSS Longford Spring and Silver Island Spring Killeglan Tobermore Spring Knockcroghery Lecarrow Toberreeoge Spring SPZ Mount Talbot Cloonlaughnan Springs Roscommon Central Regional WSS Ballinagard Spring
​Sligo	​N/A
​Tipperary North	​Aglish Borrisokane PWS Borrisoleigh PWS Glenbeha Springs SPZ Ironmills PWS Kilmakill Moyne SPZ Lorrha Templederry PWS Templemore Tobernaloo PWS Toomyvara PWS Two Mile Borris PWS
​Tipperary South	​Fethard Coalbrook PWS Kilcoran SPZ
​Waterford	​Ardmore Ballyrohan PWS Cappoquin PWS Dungarvan PWS Grange PWS Kilmacthomas Ballyogarty Borehole SPZ Lismore Cappaquin Ballyduff Ballyhane Borehole SPZ Poulbagunoge PWS
​Westmeath	​N/A
​Wexford	​Carrigbyrne Coolgreany Boreholes SPZ Enniscorthy Edermine Borehole SPZ Kilmuckridge Ballygarran II Borehole SPZ
​Wicklow	​Baltinglass Blessington Gravel Aquifer Redcross PWS Roundwood PWS