Downholland Brook Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112069064500
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSD3118207620
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length4.331 km
  • Catchment area16.667 km2
  • Catchment area1666.687 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsPoor
FishGood
InvertebratesPoor
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood
Phytobenthos Sub ElementGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good
Dissolved oxygenGood
PhosphatePoor
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
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 CompoundsFail
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

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
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourcePrivate Sewage TreatmentAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
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)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails

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 transport1000000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0010000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total3210010

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
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 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 CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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
ALT NVZS642Nitrates Directive
Sefton CoastUK0013076Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Ribble & Alt EstuariesUK11057Ramsar 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
DOWNHOLLAND BROOK AT ABRAHAMS BRIDGE 880028832009, 2014, 20132016, 2014, 2019, 2015, 20132019
RIVER ALT/DOWNHOLLAND BROOK/D/S CHESHIRE LINES/ 168232011, 2009, 2010
RIVER ALT AT ALT BRIDGE 880028802009
CHISNELL BROOK PTC BARTON BROOK 880028792009
68076 680762014, 20092015, 2014, 2016, 20192019
RIVER ALT/DOWNHOLLAND BROOK/MOSS LANE/ 6320320192019
64885 648852010, 2009

Downstream water bodies