Blackwater (Combined Essex) Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get Blackwater (Combined Essex) data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB105037041160
- Water Body TypeRiver
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRTL7614124485
- Catchment area13162.462 ha
- Length38.629 km
- Catchment area131.625 km2
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate |
| Fish | High |
| Invertebrates | High |
| Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | Moderate |
| Macrophytes Sub Element | Moderate |
| Phytobenthos Sub Element | Moderate |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate |
| Acid Neutralising Capacity | High |
| Ammonia (Phys-Chem) | High |
| Dissolved oxygen | High |
| Phosphate | Poor |
| Temperature | High |
| pH | High |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Moderate |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Moderate or less |
| Specific pollutants | High |
| Arsenic | High |
| Chlorothalonil | High |
| Copper | High |
| Iron | High |
| Manganese | High |
| Pendimethalin | High |
| Triclosan | High |
| Zinc | High |
| Chemical | Fail |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Fail |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous) | Good |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail |
| Nonylphenol | Good |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Fail |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail |
| Quinoxyfen | Good |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good |
| Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good |
| Priority substances | Good |
| 1,2-dichloroethane | Good |
| Aclonifen | Good |
| Alachlor | Good |
| Atrazine | Good |
| Bifenox | Good |
| Cybutryne | Good |
| Cypermethrin (Priority) | Good |
| Dichlorvos (Priority) | Good |
| Fluoranthene | Good |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good |
| Pentachlorophenol | Good |
| Simazine | Good |
| Terbutryn | Good |
| Trichloromethane | Good |
| Other Pollutants | Good |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Good |
| Trichloroethylene | Good |
| para - para DDT | Good |
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 | 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) | Water Industry | Mitigation Measures Assessment | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Transport Drainage | Urban and transport | Phosphate | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor Livestock Management | Agriculture and rural land management | Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor nutrient management | Agriculture and rural land management | Phosphate | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor nutrient management | Agriculture and rural land management | Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Flood protection - structures | Local and Central Government | Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Phosphate | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Details |
| 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 | Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | 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 | 1 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 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 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Fish | Good | 2015 | |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined | Moderate | 2015 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Acid Neutralising Capacity | Good | 2015 | |
| Ammonia (Phys-Chem) | Good | 2015 | |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Phosphate | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Temperature | Good | 2015 | |
| pH | 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 | |
| Chlorothalonil | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Manganese | High | 2015 | |
| Pendimethalin | High | 2015 | |
| Triclosan | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Benzo (b) and (k) fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2033 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous) | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Endosulfan | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2039 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Quinoxyfen | Good | 2015 | |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2021 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| 1,2-dichloroethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Aclonifen | Good | 2015 | |
| Alachlor | Good | 2015 | |
| Atrazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Bifenox | Good | 2015 | |
| Cybutryne | Good | 2015 | |
| Cypermethrin (Priority) | Good | 2015 | |
| Dichlorvos (Priority) | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Pentachlorophenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Simazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Terbutryn | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloroethylene | Good | 2015 | |
| para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandlings and Chelmsford | G78 | Nitrates Directive | |
| Rivers Blackwater and Brain | UKENRI63 | Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive | |
| River Blackwater NVZ | S434 | Nitrates Directive | |
| Chelmer & Blackwater (SWSGZ1028) | SWSGZ1028 | Safeguard Zone | |
| River Chelmer NVZ | S428 | Nitrates Directive | |
| Blackwater (Combined Essex) | UKGB105037041160 | Drinking Water Protected Area |
Monitoring sites which have been used to classify this water body
Shows which sites were used for classification for which years within each cycle.