Wash Outer Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB640523160000
  • Water Body TypeCoastal Water
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTF5644845123
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Surface area456.178 km2
  • Surface area45617.829 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsModerateModerate
AngiospermsModerateModerate
SaltmarshModerateModerate
InvertebratesGoodGood
Infaunal Quality IndexGoodGood
MacroalgaeHighHigh
Opportunistic MacroalgaeHighHigh
PhytoplanktonModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerateModerate
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
Chromium (VI)HighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
Un-ionised ammoniaHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
OctylphenolGood
TrichloromethaneGood
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
RNAGNaturalNatural conditions - otherNo sector responsibleAngiospermsDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails

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 management0000010
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0000010

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceTechnically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
AngiospermsGood2027 - Low confidenceTechnically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
InvertebratesGood2015
MacroalgaeGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
Un-ionised ammoniaHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2015
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2021Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
OctylphenolGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
West WashUKSW4Shellfish Water Directive
North Norfolk CoastUK11048Ramsar SiteNatural England
North Norfolk CoastUK0019838Special Area of ConservationNatural England
N Norfolk CoastUK9009031Special Protection AreaNatural England
The Wash & North Norfolk CoastUK0017075Special Area of ConservationNatural England
The WashUK9008021Special Protection AreaNatural England
The WashUK11072Ramsar SiteNatural England
Hunstanton Main BeachUK09850Bathing Water Directive
North East WashUKSW3Shellfish Water Directive
Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes & Gibraltar PointUK0030270Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Gibraltar PointUK9008022Special Protection AreaNatural England
Gibraltar PointUK11027Ramsar SiteNatural England
Greater WashUK9020329Special Protection AreaNatural England
South East WashUKSW2Shellfish Water Directive
HeachamUK09800Bathing Water Directive
Hunstanton (Old Hunstanton)UK09900Bathing Water 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.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
WASH SITE 47 - WEST OF SUNK SAND WA56234420132015, 2019, 20162019
THE WASH SHELLFISH WATERS (W/W 19)8 NMMP WASHSFW2010, 2011, 2013, 20122015, 2019, 20162019
WASH SITE 33 - THE WELL / LYNN DEEPS WA56034820132015, 2019, 20162019
WASH SITE 17 - BOSTON ROADS WA55234220132015, 2019, 20162019
WASH SITE 46 - SW OF SUNK BUOY (W CARD) WA56034020132015, 2019, 20162019
THE WASH OLD HUNSTNTN BCH CLFF PTH 09900 66M072010, 2011, 2012, 20132015
WASH OUTER SHORE AT GIBRALTAR POINT GIBPTME2015, 2019, 20162019

Upstream water bodies

Downstream water bodies