Test Lower and Southampton Streams Operational Catchment

About

This catchment includes sections of the River Test upstream of Romsey (confluence of the Dun), down to Southampton Water at Redbridge. The majority of this catchment lies on clays rather than chalk. Downstream of Romsey, historical channel modifications of the Test have resulted in flows being shared between several channels. There is a large public water supply abstraction at Testwood, near where the Test is joined by the River Blackwater. The main river then flows through the Lower Test Nature Reserve and joined by Luzborough Lane Stream. Tanners Brook, an 8.5km river running from North Baddesley discharges into Southampton Water.

Related links

Photograph of the visual impact of sediment entering the River Dun at times of high flow

Classifications data for Test Lower and Southampton Streams Operational Catchment

Number of water bodies

The number of water bodies in the river basin district. It shows whether these are natural, artificial (such as canals and reservoirs) or have been modified ('heavily modified') for particular uses.

Water body categoriesNaturalArtificialHeavily modifiedTotal
River, canals and surface water transfers60612
Lake0000
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total60612

Ecological status for surface waters

Table summarises the current ecological status of surface water bodies. Water bodies are classified as being at high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status or potential.

Ecological status or potentialBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
Number of water bodies00102012
Number of water body elements161015108140

Chemical status for surface waters

Table summarises the current chemical status of water bodies. These are classified as being at good or fail.

Chemical statusFailGoodTotal
Number of water bodies12012
Number of water body elements27195222

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Quantitative status for groundwater

Table summarises the quantitative status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Quantitative statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Chemical status for groundwater

Table summarises the chemical status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Chemical statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Challenges data for Test Lower and Southampton Streams Operational Catchment

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 issueChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPhysical modificationsPollution from abandoned minesPollution from rural areasPollution from towns, cities and transportPollution from waste water
Agriculture and rural land management0000200
Domestic general public0000010
Industry0000000
Local & central government0060000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0100000
Other0020000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport00120010
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry0000004
Total01200224

Objectives data for Test Lower and Southampton Streams Operational Catchment

Ecological status or potential objectives for surface water bodies

Table summarises the ecological status and ecological potential objectives set for water bodies in the river basin management plan. Each water body is only counted once in this table. Each water body objective consists of a target status and a date when it was, or is expected to be, met.

StatusBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
By 2015000202
By 202700010010
Total00012012

9 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for surface water bodies

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusFailGoodTotal
By 206301212
Total01212

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Quantitative status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Summary Statistics data for Test Lower and Southampton Streams Operational Catchment

Ecological status and potential

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good or better ecological status/potential17%17%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and specific pollutants at good or better status87%87%
% of water bodies with an objective of good ecological status/potential or better100%100%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and Specific Pollutants with an objective of good status or better100%100%

Chemical

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good chemical status0%0%
% of chemical elements at good status88%88%
% of water bodies at good chemical status without uPBT92%92%
% of chemical elements at good status without uPBTGreater than 99%Greater than 99%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good100%100%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status without uPBT100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good without uPBTs100%100%