Plymouth Coast Water Body Good ecological status
Attributes Water Body ID GB620806110003 Water Body Type Coastal Water Hydromorphological designation not designated artificial or heavily modified NGR SX4654646786 Surveillance Water Body No Surface area 127.218 km2 Surface area 12721.816 ha Classifications Classification Item 2019 2022 Ecological Good Good Biological quality elements Good Good Invertebrates Good Good Infaunal Quality Index Good Good Phytoplankton High High Physico-chemical quality elements High High Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen High High Dissolved oxygen High High Hydromorphological Supporting Elements Supports good Supports good Morphology Supports good Supports good Chemical Fail Does not require assessment Priority hazardous substances Fail Does not require assessment Benzo(a)pyrene 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 Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) Good Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) Fail Priority substances Good Does not require assessment Fluoranthene Good Other Pollutants Does not require assessment Does not require assessment
Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?
Investigations into classification status Classification Element Cycle Year Status Outcome Mercury and Its Compounds 2 2013 Fail Uncertain there is 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 Type SWMI Activity Category Classification Element More information RNAG measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery Not applicable No sector responsible Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) Details RNAG measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery Not applicable No sector responsible Mercury and Its Compounds 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 Good 2015 Biological quality elements Good 2015 Invertebrates Good 2015 Phytoplankton Good 2015 Physico-chemical quality elements Good 2015 Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Good 2015 Dissolved oxygen Good 2015 Hydromorphological Supporting Elements Not assessed 2015 Supporting elements (Surface Water) Not assessed 2015 Specific pollutants Not assessed 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 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 Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) Good 2015 Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) Good 2063 Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time Priority substances Good 2015 Fluoranthene Good 2015 Other Pollutants Does not require assessment 2015
Protected areas PA Name Id Directive More information Sharrow UK26570 Bathing Water Directive Plymouth Sound & Estuaries UK0013111 Special Area of Conservation Natural England Challaborough UK26000 Bathing Water Directive Downderry UK26700 Bathing Water Directive Thurlestone South UK25500 Bathing Water Directive Portwrinkle UK26600 Bathing Water Directive Blackstone Point UK0030091 Special Area of Conservation Natural England Hope Cove UK25400 Bathing Water Directive Seaton (Cornwall) UK26800 Bathing Water Directive Thurlestone North UK25600 Bathing Water Directive Bigbury-on-Sea North UK25900 Bathing Water Directive Millendreath UK26900 Bathing Water Directive Tregonhawke UK26560 Bathing Water Directive Wembury UK26200 Bathing Water Directive Start Point To Plymouth Sound & Eddystone UK0030373 Special Area of Conservation Natural 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.