Brent Rivers and Lakes Operational Catchment

About

The Brent has extensive tributaries in north and west London. They converge with the Brent at the Brent Reservoir and near Wembley Stadium. Some stretches of the river have kept their original shape, but many are modified, with major roads and railways, industrial estates and housing built up to the waters edge. These developments are associated with pollution, while people have limited opportunities to visit and enjoy the river. Lower down, the Brent is navigable, forming part of the Grand Union Canal. A branch of the Canal coming from Slough crosses the Brent, and is included in this operational catchment.

Canoe clean-up at Clitherow's Island

Classifications data for Brent Rivers and Lakes Operational Catchment

Number of water bodies

The number of water bodies in the river basin district. It shows whether these are natural, artificial (such as canals and reservoirs) or have been modified ('heavily modified') for particular uses.

Water body categoriesNaturalArtificialHeavily modifiedTotal
River, canals and surface water transfers0044
Lake0202
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total0246

Ecological status for surface waters

Table summarises the current ecological status of surface water bodies. Water bodies are classified as being at high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status or potential.

Ecological status or potentialBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
Number of water bodies006006
Number of water body elements58541638

Chemical status for surface waters

Table summarises the current chemical status of water bodies. These are classified as being at good or fail.

Chemical statusFailGoodTotal
Number of water bodies606
Number of water body elements118091

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Quantitative status for groundwater

Table summarises the quantitative status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Quantitative statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Chemical status for groundwater

Table summarises the chemical status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Chemical statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Challenges data for Brent Rivers and Lakes Operational Catchment

Reasons for not achieving good status by business sector

The issues preventing waters reaching good status and the sectors identified as contributing to them. The numbers in the table are individual counts of the reasons for not achieving good status with a confidence status of 'confirmed' and 'probable', where the latest classification is less than good status. There may be more than one reason in a single water body. Note, table does not include reasons for deterioration.

Significant water management issueChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPhysical modificationsPollution from abandoned minesPollution from rural areasPollution from towns, cities and transportPollution from waste water
Agriculture and rural land management0000000
Domestic general public00000130
Industry0000000
Local & central government0030000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0020000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0020000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport001400120
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry00000016
Total0021002516

Objectives data for Brent Rivers and Lakes Operational Catchment

Ecological status or potential objectives for surface water bodies

Table summarises the ecological status and ecological potential objectives set for water bodies in the river basin management plan. Each water body is only counted once in this table. Each water body objective consists of a target status and a date when it was, or is expected to be, met.

StatusBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
By 2027000606
Total000606

6 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for surface water bodies

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusFailGoodTotal
By 2063066
Total066

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Quantitative status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000