Groundwater Drinking Water Protected Areas (DWPA's) submitted as part of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2nd cycle reporting in 2016.  The extent of each protected area was created by NIEA Land & Groundwater team.In order to provide water for people to drink we abstract raw water from reservoirs, rivers and the ground (known as groundwater).  These areas are referred to a Drinking Water Protected Areas (DWPAs) within the Water Framework Directive. Where necessary this raw water is treated to purify it for us to drink. Groundwater DWPA's include areas where water is/ can be abstracted for public or private drinking water supplies, for direct inclusion within food (e.g. cooking or food preparation including processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption), but not water intended for indirect uses such as spray irrigation.