Report No FR/GF 2

SEP 1995

This set of papers provides the background to the 31 groundwater issues raised in the report `Groundwater in the UK: A Strategic Study - Issues and Research Needs' (FR/GF 1). The Strategic Study deliberately focused on the issues facing groundwater management: an issue was defined as:

• a threat to groundwater quality or quantity, or
• a constraint on groundwater development, or
• any significant uncertainty.

The issues were identified by means of a wide-ranging consultation exercise involving the main stakeholders in groundwater in the UK. These included the water utilities, regulators, industry, conservation bodies, various Government Departments and the research community. The consultations were carried out through four main devices: a mailshot, individual consultation meetings, a UK Groundwater Forum, and national seminars held in England (for England and Wales) and Scotland (for Scotland and Northern Ireland). On the basis of the feedback received the original list of issues was reduced to 31 of which 14 were considered to be 'Major'.

It was decided to prepare reviews, termed 'Issues Papers', summarizing the current status of each of the various issues and to identify the main R & D requirements. A structured approach was adopted to provide some uniformity to the reviews. Each paper is divided into the following headings:

Problem status:A brief statement of the issue as related to its impact on groundwater Trends: Is the issue getting better, worse or not changing? Context Changes:What are the likely changes in legislation etc that may change the importance of the issue? Learning Curve:A brief summary of our existing knowledge Perspectives:The views of various interested parties Benefits and What are the benefits of reducing the Beneficiaries problem and who benefits? Response: The recent response to the problem R & D:A bulleted list of the R & D required to advance our understanding of the problem References:A brief list of key cited references.

The majority of these Issues Papers were initially drafted by members of BGS but where outside experts were willing they were invited to contribute as lead authors or co-authors. The early drafts were circulated for comment to those who had expressed an interest in reviewing them. This review process drew a wide response and led to a considerable improvement in the text. The authors and reviewers are given at the end of each paper.

The issues are divided into MAJOR issues and OTHER issues on the basis of the responses received during the consultation process that formed the early part of the Strategic Study. Other than that, the issues are arranged in alphabetical order.

MAJOR ISSUES

ACID MINE DRAINAGE AFFORESTATION CONTAMINATED LAND LANDFILL LAND-USE CHANGE LOW FLOWS NITRATE NON-AQUEOUS PHASE LIQUIDS (NAPLs) PESTICIDES REMEDIATION RESOURCE PROTECTION AND VULNERABILITY SOURCE PROTECTION SUSTAINABLE YIELD WETLAND CONSERVATION

OTHER ISSUES

ACIDIFICATION BOREHOLE EFFICIENCY & REHABILITATION CLIMATE CHANGE DEEP WASTE DISPOSAL GEOCHEMICAL BASELINE CHANGE HEAVY METALS MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION QUARRYING RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL RADON, RADIUM AND URANIUM IN GROUNDWATER RISING WATER LEVELS SALINE INTRUSION SEWERS, SOAKAWAYS AND SEPTIC TANKS SLUDGE UTILIZATION SUBSURFACE METHANE UNREGULATED RURAL SUPPLIES WASTEWATER REUSE

Copies of the report are available from FWR, price £15.00, less 20% to FWR Members.