Cuckmere from Alfriston to Arlington Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB107041012330
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTQ5353706069
  • Catchment area26.089 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length5.936 km
  • Catchment area2608.91 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsPoorPoor
FishPoorPoor
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerateModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoorPoor
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenModerateGood
PhosphateModerateModerate
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ManganeseHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
Other PollutantsGoodDoes not require assessment
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood
para - para DDTGood

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

Investigations into classification status

No data to show

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
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicPhosphateDetails
RFDFlowLow Flow (not drought)No sector responsibleDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityLocal and Central GovernmentFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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 management1000010
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation3000000
Total5200010

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyreneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Waldron Ghyll and River CuckmereUKENRI129Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
River CuckmereSWSGZ4004Safeguard Zone
Cuckmere from Alfriston to ArlingtonUKGB107041012330Drinking Water Protected Area

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
R CUCKMERE SHERMAN BRIDGE F00020752013, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2011, 20142016, 2013, 2019, 2015, 20142019, 2022
ARLINGTON U/S COMMON LANE F00020782010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2014, 20122013, 2016, 2014, 2015
43000 430002014, 2010, 20092014, 2015, 2013, 2016
CUCKMERE/SHERMAN BRIDGE/ 63182014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 20092016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022
CUCKMERE/SESSINGHAM FARM/ 282602011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 20092016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022
CUCKMERE/ARLINGTON INTAKE/ 71262011, 2012, 2010, 2009
CUCKMERE/LONG BRIDGE/ 302062010, 2013, 2009

Downstream water bodies