In the current context of global changes (climatic, demographic and socio-economic), groundwater is now used to meet the need to supply small populations, agriculture and industry, and are increasingly considered strategic reserves of quality water with potential to combat situations of extreme drought and desertification. The geothermal and emblematic sectors of Portugal’s natural mineral water and mineral waters are also dependent on hydrological cycle characteristics, in particular on the properties acquired by groundwater over extensive trajectories within the geological formations and from contamination with surface waters.

In support of public entities and business sectors, LNEG develops exploration, monitoring and quantitative and qualitative assessment of groundwater, including the assessment of potential geothermal and hydromineral resources, the assessment of contamination and vulnerability to pollution and the definition of strategies for the protection and remediation of aquifers.