STOUR (ESSEX) Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get STOUR (ESSEX) data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB520503613602
- Water Body TypeTransitional Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRTM1818733212
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
- Surface area25.315 km2
- Surface area2531.502 ha
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Angiosperms | Moderate | Moderate |
| Saltmarsh | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fish | Good | Good |
| Invertebrates | Moderate | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Moderate | Good |
| Macroalgae | Moderate | Moderate |
| Opportunistic Macroalgae | Moderate | Moderate |
| Phytoplankton | Good | High |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High | High |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | Supports good |
| Hydrological Regime | Does not support good | Does not support good |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | Good |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | Good |
| Specific pollutants | High | High |
| Arsenic | High | High |
| Chromium (VI) | High | High |
| Copper | High | High |
| Iron | High | High |
| Toluene | High | High |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | High |
| Zinc | High | High |
| Chemical | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail | |
| Nonylphenol | Good | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail | |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | |
| Priority substances | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Benzene | Good | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Octylphenol | Good | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Trichloroethylene | Good |
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 Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Angiosperms | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor nutrient management | Agriculture and rural land management | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Hydrological Regime | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Macroalgae | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Invertebrates | Details |
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 issue | Physical modifications | Pollution from waste water | Pollution from towns, cities and transport | Changes to the natural flow and level of water | Invasive non-native species | Pollution from rural areas | Pollution from abandoned mines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and rural land management | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Navigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Urban and transport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic general public | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Recreation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waste treatment and disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No sector responsible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sector under investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Biological quality elements | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Angiosperms | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Fish | Good | 2015 | |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Macroalgae | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | 2015 | |
| Hydrological Regime | Supports good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2015 | |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2015 | |
| Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Toluene | High | 2015 | |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Octylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloroethylene | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stour And Orwell Estuaries | UK9009121 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| River Stour / Stour Brook | UKENRI74a_&_UKENRI74b | Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive | |
| Stour And Orwell Estuaries | UK11067 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| River Stour | UKENRI74a | Urban 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.