Regional groundwater flow in sedimentary basins in the U.K.

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Abstract
Summary: The U.K. contains seven groundwater provinces. Regional groundwater flow systems occur in these provinces above an essentially impermeable basement of varying age. The pattern of flow in the U.K. is strongly influenced by the distribution of the Permo-Triassic sandstones. Intermediate flow systems are encouraged by the scarp and vale topography that has developed as a consequence of the alternating sequence of aquifers and aquicludes in the Mesozoic. Regional changes in groundwater chemistry reveal the direction of flow paths, and isotopic ratios and inert gas contents give an indication of the residence time of water in the flow systems. The composition of the groundwater in deep systems has been modified by shale-membrane filtration. Density settling may be a feature in thick relatively homogeneous aquifers.