St Austell River Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB108048002280
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSX0085348147
  • Catchment area3747.146 ha
  • Length20.834 km
  • Catchment area37.471 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsGoodGood
FishHighHigh
InvertebratesGoodGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGoodGood
Macrophytes Sub ElementGoodGood
Phytobenthos Sub ElementGoodGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
PhosphateModerateModerate
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
ChlorothalonilHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
DiazinonHighHigh
DimethoateHighHigh
IronHighHigh
PendimethalinHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneFail
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneFail
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
PentachlorobenzeneGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
QuinoxyfenGood
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
AclonifenGood
AlachlorGood
BifenoxGood
CybutryneGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
TerbutrynGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessmentDoes not require assessment

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 sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(g-h-i)peryleneDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(b)fluorantheneDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)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 transport1000000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2200000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2021Disproportionately 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 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
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
DiazinonHigh2015
DimethoateHigh2015
IronHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
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 (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
PentachlorobenzeneGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
QuinoxyfenGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
AclonifenGood2015
AlachlorGood2015
BifenoxGood2015
CybutryneGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
TerbutrynGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Truro, Tresillian and FalmouthET5Nitrates Directive
St. Austell RiverUKENRI119Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Falmouth Bay To St Austell BayUK9020323Special Protection AreaNatural 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
ST. AUSTELL/MAIN ST.AUSTELL/SEWERS BRIDGE/ 110222011, 2009, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20132016, 2019, 2014, 20152022, 2019
8767 87672014, 2013, 2011, 2012, 2010, 20092015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
ST. AUSTELL RIVER AT PENTEWAN BRIDGE 818101042009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2013, 20102016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019
POLGOOTH STREAM U/S ST AUSTELL RIVER 818103042009, 2014, 2013, 20122016, 2015, 2019, 2014, 20132019
ST. AUSTELL RIVER AT OLD MOLINGEY GS 818101302009, 2011, 2010, 2012, 2014, 20132016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019
8763 87632014, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2010, 20112015, 2014, 2013, 2016, 20192019
ST. AUSTELL/MAIN ST.AUSTELL/U/S MENAGWINS/ 110202011, 2009, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20132016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132022, 2019
ST. AUSTELL/GOVER STREAM/OLD CHAPEL GUEST HOUSE/ 85932011, 2009, 2012, 2010
8762 87622014, 2012, 2013, 2011, 2010, 20092015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
ST. AUSTELL/POLGOOTH STREAM/BOSINVER/ 222492011, 2009, 2012, 2010
ST. AUSTELL RIVER AT IRON BRIDGE 818101682009, 2011, 2014, 2013, 2012, 20102016, 2019, 2015, 2014, 20132019
ST. AUSTELL/GOVER STREAM/TURNAVEAN/ 222462011, 2009, 2014, 2012, 20102016, 2019, 2014, 20152022, 2019
80838 808382011, 2009

Upstream water bodies

    Downstream water bodies