Essex Water Body
Moderate ecological status
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Attributes
- Water Body IDGB650503520001
- Water Body TypeCoastal Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRTM2612207726
- Surface area119593.34 ha
- Surface area1195.933 km2
- Surveillance Water BodyNo
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Good | Good |
| Invertebrates | Good | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Good | Good |
| Phytoplankton | High | High |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High | High |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Moderate or less | Moderate or less |
| Specific pollutants | High | High |
| Arsenic | High | High |
| Copper | High | High |
| Zinc | High | High |
| Chemical | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | 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 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail | |
| Priority substances | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Fluoranthene | Good | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Other Pollutants | Does not require assessment | Does not require assessment |
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 | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Local and Central Government | Mitigation Measures Assessment | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Local and Central Government | Mitigation Measures Assessment | 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 | 2 | 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 | 2 | 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 | 2015 | |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| 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 | Not assessed | 2015 | |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | 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 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2021 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| 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 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Does not require assessment | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Thames Estuary | UK9020309 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) | UK11018 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Essex Estuaries | UK0013690 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) | UK9009242 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Outer Thames | UKSW24 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Foulness | UKSW22 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Hamford Water | UK9009131 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Hamford Water | UK11028 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) | UK9009243 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) | UK11015 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Dengie | UKSW18 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Frinton | UK11300 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Colne_E | UKSW17 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Clacton | UK11500 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Walton | UK11250 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) | UK9009246 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) | UK11026 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Roach and Lower Crouch | UKSW20 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Felixstowe South | UK11000 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Clacton Beach Martello Tower | UK11650 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Felixstowe North | UK10900 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Holland | UK11350 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Jaywick | UK11600 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Margate And Long Sands | UK0030371 | 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.