Flit and Ivel Navigation d/s of Shefford Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033037790
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTL1118838485
  • Catchment area4131.529 ha
  • Length22.601 km
  • Catchment area41.315 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsGoodGood
FishGoodGood
InvertebratesGoodGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)GoodGood
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureGoodGood
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)GoodGood
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGoodGood
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
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessmentDoes not require assessment

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

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)22016GoodCertain there is not 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
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails

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 management0000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0100000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2015
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Disproportionately 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
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 good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
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
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Great Ouse NVZS391Nitrates Directive
Woburn SandsG76Nitrates 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
MIDDLE OUSE/FLIT/BEAUMONT FARM HOLLINGTON/ 431022014
56258 562582009, 2014, 20132014, 2013, 2016, 2015
R.FLIT BEADLOW RD.BR. 16M032014, 2010, 2011, 2009, 2012, 20132014, 2019, 2015, 2013, 20162019
R.FLIT SHEFFORD NORTH BRIDGE 16M042009
56284 562842011, 2009, 20102013
MIDDLE OUSE/FLIT/BEADLOW/ 49532014
IVEL NAVIGATION TWIN BRIDGE CLIFTON 18M012014, 2010, 2011, 2009, 2012, 20132014, 2019, 2015, 2013, 20162019
R.FLIT GREENFIELD MILL 16M012014, 2010, 2011, 2009, 2012, 2013
MIDDLE OUSE/IVEL NAVIGATION/CLIFTON/ 47262013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20092013, 2016, 2014, 2019, 20152022, 2019
MIDDLE OUSE/IVEL NAVIGATION/SHEFFORD MILL/ 47252013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20092013, 2016, 2014, 2019, 20152022, 2019

Downstream water bodies