Somerset North Streams Operational Catchment

About

North Somerset Streams operational catchment starts at Brean Down in the south and to just beyond Blagdon Lake and then north to the mouth of the Avon. The rivers have short upland and long lowland reaches with very low gradients. Half the area is low-lying levels and moors. Approximately one third of the catchment is at risk from flooding requiring flood alleviation defences. The majority of the catchment is agricultural land, predominantly cattle farming. There are many statutory designations within the catchment; 6 water related SSSIs, 2 Special Areas of Conservation and 1 Special Protected Area. The catchment includes the Mendips AONB.

Congresbury Yeo

Classifications data for Somerset North 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 transfers13610
Lake0011
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total13711

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 bodies0281011
Number of water body elements0611135585

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 bodies11011
Number of water body elements24108132

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 Somerset North 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 management00901000
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000020
Local & central government0040000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0010000
Urban and transport0030030
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry1020012
Total101901062

Objectives data for Somerset North 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 2015001102
By 2027001809
Total0029011

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 206301111
Total01111

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 Somerset North Streams Operational Catchment

Ecological status and potential

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good or better ecological status/potential10%0%9%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and specific pollutants at good or better status78%29%74%
% of water bodies with an objective of good ecological status/potential or better80%100%82%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and Specific Pollutants with an objective of good status or better96%100%97%

Chemical

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good chemical status0%0%0%
% of chemical elements at good status83%70%82%
% of water bodies at good chemical status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of chemical elements at good status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status100%100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good100%100%100%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good without uPBTs100%100%100%