In the UK groundwater provid
es a significant
proportion of the public water supply
, locally up to
70%
. Groundwater
classifi
ed as mineral or thermal waters is
often
promoted as
benefit
ing
our well
-
being,
over and above providing a vital water resource
. Where
some of these waters emerge as
springs at the ground surface
, they
have
historically \ud
been important sites for bathing
or drinking
