Little Ouse (US Thelnetham) Water Body

Bad ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033043060
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTM0470276510
  • Catchment area3955.02 ha
  • Length8.747 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Catchment area39.55 km2

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalBadBad
Biological quality elementsBadBad
FishBadBad
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerateModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenModerateGood
PhosphateModerateModerate
TemperatureHighHigh
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
IronHighHigh
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)Good
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)22014PoorCertain there is not 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 IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowSurface water abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGPoint sourceGroundwaterIndustryFishDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryHydrological RegimeDetails
RFDUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryFishDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGFlowSurface water abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowSurface water abstractionAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails

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 management2001020
Industry0100000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0101000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2202020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Biological quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Dissolved oxygenGood2027 - Low confidenceTechnically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
PhosphateGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2015
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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)Good2015
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
Waveney & Little Ouse Valley FensUK0012882Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Redgrave & South Lopham FensUK11056Ramsar SiteNatural England

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
LT.OUSE R. U/S CRACKTHORN BR. STW 42M2620192019, 2022
LT.OUSE R. BLO NORTON FORD 42M042009, 2014, 20132014, 2015, 2013, 2016
161105 16110520142014, 2016, 2019, 20152019
LOWER OUSE/LT OUSE/U/S LT OUSE/HINDERCLAY FEN/ 329692011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20132014, 2019, 2015, 2013, 20162022, 2019
DRAIN DS OF RICKINGHALL WTW 42M252015, 2016

Upstream water bodies