Thames (Evenlode to Thame) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106039030334
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSP4574111361
  • Catchment area14959.089 ha
  • Length63.863 km
  • Catchment area149.591 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishGood
InvertebratesModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateModerate
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
MorphologySupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
ChlorothalonilHigh
Chromium (VI)High
CopperHigh
DiazinonHigh
DimethoateHigh
IronHigh
ManganeseHigh
PendimethalinHigh
PermethrinHigh
TriclosanHigh
ZincHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
PentachlorobenzeneGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
QuinoxyfenGood
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGood
AclonifenGood
AlachlorGood
BifenoxGood
CybutryneGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
TerbutrynGood
TrichloromethaneGood
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
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryTributyltin CompoundsDetails
RNAGSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleInvertebratesDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGInvasive non-native speciesNorth american signal crayfishNo sector responsibleInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)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 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 management0000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
DiazinonHigh2015
DimethoateHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
PermethrinHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2015
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
PentachlorobenzeneGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
QuinoxyfenGood2015
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Priority substancesGood2015
AclonifenGood2015
AlachlorGood2015
BifenoxGood2015
CybutryneGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
TerbutrynGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Lower Thames (Cookham Egham Teddington)SWSGZ4016Safeguard Zone
Little WittenhamUK0030184Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Thames Wallingford to Caversham NVZS481Nitrates Directive
River ThamesUKENRI17Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
THAMES (LEACH TO EVENLODE) NVZS482Nitrates Directive
Ginge Brook and Mill Brook NVZS469Nitrates Directive
Northfield Brook (Source to Thames) at Sandford NVZS477Nitrates Directive
Wolvercote Mill StreamUK11946Bathing Water Directive
Oxford MeadowsUK0012845Special Area of ConservationNatural 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.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
35901 359012010, 2009, 20142016, 2014, 2015
35864 3586420142016, 2014, 2015
THAMES AT SUTTON BRIDGE, CULHAM PTHR01052010, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2013, 20142015, 2016
THAMES/TWARP REACHES OF THE THAMES/SUTTON POOLS/ 607632015, 2016, 20192019
THAMES AT TROUT INN, GODSTOW PTHR01102012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2014
35097 350972010, 2009
ODHAY HILL DITCH ABOVE GINGE BROOK PTHR01522012, 2009, 2010, 2013, 20112015, 2016
THAMES AT CLIFTON HAMPDEN BRIDGE PTHR00812012, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2014
184227 18422720192019
THAMES AT DAYS LOCK PTHR00832012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2014
THAMES/TWARP REACHES OF THE THAMES/DAYS LOCK/ 530032015
CLIFTON HAMPDEN DITCH ABOVE THAMES PTHR02212012, 2010, 2011, 20092015, 2016
THAMES/OXFORD WATERCOURSES/WOLVERCOTE MILL STREAM - A34 ROAD BRIDGE/ 225302015, 2016, 20192019
THAMES AT ABINGDON WEIR PTHR00772012, 2011, 2009, 2010, 20132016
THAMES AT FOLLY BRIDGE, OXFORD PTHR00852012, 2010, 2011, 20092015, 2016
184228 18422820192019
THAMES/OXFORD WATERCOURSES/CASTLE MILL STREAM - COLLEGE GARDENS/ 131112012, 2013, 2011
THAMES AT SANDFORD PTHR00992012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2014
THAMES AT RADLEY COLLEGE BOATHOUSE, RADL PTHR00982012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2014
THAMES/OXFORD WATERCOURSES/OSNEY STREAM - ST FRIDESWIDES CHURCH/ 131092012, 2013, 2011
PUMNEY FARM DITCH ABOVE THAMES PTHR02582016, 2015
35891 358912010, 2011, 2014, 20122016, 2014, 2015
184229 18422920192019
THAMES/OXFORD WATERCOURSES/BULSTAKE STREAM - BOTLEY PARK/ 130272012, 2013, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
GINGE BROOK ABOVE THAMES PTHR002820092015, 2016
THAMES AT DONNINGTON BRIDGE, OXFORD PTHR01862012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2014

Downstream water bodies