Cam (Audley End to Stapleford) Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033037590
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTL4913145417
  • Catchment area53.818 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length19.912 km
  • Catchment area5381.77 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalPoorPoor
Biological quality elementsPoorPoor
FishGoodModerate
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedPoorPoor
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoorPoor
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenGoodModerate
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureGoodHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support goodDoes not support good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
Chromium (VI)HighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
1,2-dichloroethaneGood
AtrazineGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
SimazineGood
Other PollutantsGoodDoes not require assessment
Carbon TetrachlorideGood

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

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined22016PoorVery certain there is a problem
Hydrological Regime22015Does Not Support GoodQuite certain there is a problem
Phosphate22014PoorVery certain there is a problem

Reasons for not achieving good (RNAG) and reasons for deterioration (RFD)

All reasons (RFDs and RNAGs) attributed to the classification elements in this water body.

Reason TypeSWMIActivityCategoryClassification ElementMore information
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeIndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGFlowSurface water abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionIndustryHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeIndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details

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 issuePhysical modificationsPollution from waste waterPollution from towns, cities and transportChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPollution from rural areasPollution from abandoned mines
Agriculture and rural land management1002000
Industry0021000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0201000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2224000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2027Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphatePoor2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
1,2-dichloroethaneGood2015
AtrazineGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
SimazineGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Ely Ouse and Cut-off channel NVZS390Nitrates Directive
Anglian ChalkG71Nitrates Directive

Monitoring sites which have been used to classify this water body

Shows which sites were used for classification for which years within each cycle.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/U/S CAM/HINXTON/ 44982010, 2009, 2011
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/U/S CAM/PAMPISFORD MILL/ 44992014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20112016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/U/S CAM/SAWSTON PAPER MILL/ 45012014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20112016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022
R.CAM HINXTON BRIDGE 27M072013, 2012, 2010, 2011, 2014, 20092013, 2016, 2019, 2015, 20142019
92792 927922013, 20142015, 2014, 2013
R.CAM A505 RD.BR. WHITLESFORD 27M092010, 2011, 2013, 2012, 20092016, 2019, 20152019
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/U/S CAM/LITTLEBURY/ 44952010, 2009, 2011
56065 560652010, 2009
SAWSTON SPRING STR. D/S OF STW OUTFALL 27M202012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20112015, 2019, 20162019
56087 560872010, 2014, 20092014, 20152022
R.CAM DERNFORD LOCK GAUGING STATION 27M1020092016, 2019, 20152019
R.CAM LITTLEBURY BRIDGE 27M042011, 2012, 2014, 2009, 2010, 20132016, 2019, 2015, 20142019, 2022
56070 560702010
R.CAM WHITTLESFORD 27M2320092016, 2019, 20152019
56056 560562011, 2010
56081 560812011, 2014, 2010, 20092013, 2014, 2019, 20152022, 2019