Cam Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033042750
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTL4353454972
  • Catchment area3681.491 ha
  • Length28.617 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Catchment area36.815 km2

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsGoodGood
InvertebratesGoodGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoorPoor
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureHighGood
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
DimethoateHighHigh
LinuronHighHigh
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
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
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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)RecreationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
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 management1000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport1000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation1000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total4100000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
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 pollutantsHigh2015
DimethoateHigh2015
LinuronHigh2015
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
Ely Ouse and Cut-off channel NVZS390Nitrates Directive
Huntingdon River GravelsG144Nitrates Directive
River Cam (Cambridgeshire)UKENRI91Urban Waste Water Treatment 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
56090 560902010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/CLAYHITHE BRIDGE/ 46442012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014
R.CAM BOTTISHAM LOCK 33M092012, 2010, 2009, 2014, 2013, 20112016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019, 2022
56040 560402014, 20132016, 2015, 2013, 2014
R.CAM GREEN DRAGON FT.BR.CHESTERTON 33M062012, 2010, 2009, 2014, 2013, 20112016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019, 2022
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/U/S CAM/BYRON'S POOL BYPASS CHANNEL/ 370252013
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/FEN DITTON/ 46412012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014
56063 560632010, 2011, 2012, 20142019, 2015, 2016, 20142019
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/BAITS BITE LOCK/ 46422012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/HATLEYS WASH/ 46452012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2014
R.CAM DIMMOCKS COTE RD.BR. 34M0220132015, 2016, 2019, 2014, 20132019, 2022
R.CAM COE FEN FT.BR.CAMBRIDGE 33M022012, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 20142016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/COMMISSIONERS FARM/ 46462012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2014
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/DUCKETTS FARM UPWARE/ 46472012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2014
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/HORNINGSEA/ 46432012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2014
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/STOURBRIDGE COMMON/ 46402012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2014
56100 561002010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122013, 2016, 2014
CAM CATCHMENT/CAM/D/S CAM/MIDSUMMER COMMON/ 46392012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014

Downstream water bodies