Itchen Operational Catchment

About

The River Itchen is fed by three major tributaries in its upper reaches; the Candover Stream, River Alre and the Cheriton Stream. The river flows through many Hampshire villages before entering the city of Winchester, from where it heads south, through a series of water meadows, before reaching the northern suburbs of Southampton at Mansbridge. Here it is joined by the Monks Brook just above its tidal limit before flowing into Southampton Water at Woodmill. The section between Winchester and Southampton also includes the Itchen Navigation - a disused 18th century canal system linking Winchester to the sea.

Picture of the River Itchen at Winnall

Classifications data for Itchen 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 transfers5027
Lake0011
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total5038

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 bodies104308
Number of water body elements214106885

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 bodies808
Number of water body elements19125144

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 Itchen 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 management0010200
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000000
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0010000
Recreation0020000
Sector under investigation0010000
Urban and transport0030000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry0000000
Total0090200

Objectives data for Itchen 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 2015000404
By 2027000404
Total000808

4 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 2063088
Total088

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