Avon Bristol Urban Operational Catchment

About

The Bristol Avon is a predominantly rural agricultural catchment, however the Bristol Avon Urban Operational Catchment comprises of an urbanised corridor from Trowbridge in the south east, through Bradford-on-Avon, Bath and Keynsham before reaching Bristol. The highly urbanised nature of the catchment results in pollution from surface run-off. Also the many physical modifications such as flood protection, impoundments and urban development infrastructure can cause barriers to fish and affect fish habitats. There is only 1 protected area, a Special Areas of Conservation(SAC) at Avon Gorge Woodlands, but the catchment includes Bath, a World Heritage Site and part of the Cotswolds AONB.

Bristol Avon at Clifton Suspension Bridge

Classifications data for Avon Bristol Urban 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 transfers50914
Lake0000
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total50914

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 bodies03110014
Number of water body elements17181794137

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 bodies14014
Number of water body elements38184222

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 Avon Bristol Urban 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 management00101500
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000010
Local & central government0090000
Mining and quarrying0010000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0060000
Recreation0020000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport00700130
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry0000026
Total0026015166

Objectives data for Avon Bristol Urban 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 202700014014
Total00014014

14 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 206301414
Total01414

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