The Hydrogeology of the Chalk of North-west Europe

This study reviews the origins, sedimentology and hydraulic properties of the unique rock of the Chalk – the most important source of water in North-West Europe, yielding some eight million cubic metres daily. It also looks at the chemical characteristics of the water contained in the Chalk. Separate chapters cover the occurrence of groundwater in the Chalk in each of the six countries of the region which use it as an aquifer. The factors influencing the flow of oil through the Chalk, and its role as a hydrocarbon reservoir in the North Sea are also reviewed. Since the 1940s, industrial chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides have been allowed to enter the chalk, threatening its use for water supply. The factors that influence the distribution of pollutants in the aquifer are described, and the seriousness of the situation is emphasized. R.A. Downing has also edited “Applied Groundwater Hydrology” (with Wilkinson).