Hiz (DS Hitchin) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033037700
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTL1806135180
  • Catchment area22.669 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length11.386 km
  • Catchment area2266.925 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishModerate
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined
Macrophytes Sub ElementGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateHigh
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
IronHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes 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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportFishDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceTransport DrainageUrban and transportFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityIndustryFishDetails
RNAGInvasive non-native speciesNorth american signal crayfishNo sector responsibleFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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 management1000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0010000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000100
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2010100

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2015
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2015
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Great Ouse NVZS391Nitrates Directive
Anglian ChalkG71Nitrates 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
56228 562282014, 2015, 2013
R.HIZ U/S HITCHIN STW 13M0320092016, 2019, 20152019
R.HIZ CADWELL ARCH 13M042009, 2013, 2011, 2012, 2010
MIDDLE OUSE/HIZ/ICKLEFORD COMMON/ 427432013, 20142019, 2015, 2013, 2016, 20142019
MIDDLE OUSE/HIZ/HITCHIN ALLOTMENTS/ 343312012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 20142013, 2014
56233 5623320142014, 2015, 2013, 2016, 20192019
92806 9280620142016, 2014, 2013
MIDDLE OUSE/OUGHTON/WESTMILL FARM OVERSPILL WEIR/ 317442009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011
56234 562342009
BEDFORD OUSE LEAP/IVEL TRIBUTARIES/RIVER OUGHTON WESTMILL G/S (HEADWATER SURVEY)/ 124302009, 2010
MIDDLE OUSE/OUGHTON/D/S WESTMILL FARM OVERSPILL WEIR/ 317452009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011
MIDDLE OUSE/OUGHTON/WESTMILL FARM/ 318482009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2014
MIDDLE OUSE/HIZ/AMENITY TREES ARLESEY/ 472832019, 2015, 20162019
R.HIZ A507 RD.BR.ARLSEY 13M062016, 2014, 2013, 2015

Downstream water bodies