Groundwater
Groundwater requires protection. Although it is naturally more protected than surface water, it can still be affected adversely both by natural processes and human activities. Therefore, there are various laws related to groundwater, to ensure that groundwater is regularly monitored for quality and quantity and that it is used sustainably.
The Geological Survey of Norway is the State's water resource authority for providing well-drilling and groundwater investigations. The Survey, along with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is in charge of a nation-wide programme which monitors groundwater quantity and quality (LGN).
The European Union's Water Framework Directive serves to lay the foundation for a common European effort to improve the ecological and chemical condition of the coastal waters, lakes, rivers and groundwater within the European Union (EU). The directive has been incorporated into Norwegian law through the framework for water management, where the Ministry of Climate and Environment is the national coordinating authority. NGU contributes to this effort through its management of the national groundwater database GRANADA that contains important geological information that can be use to categorize and classify groundwater .
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