Mid Medway from Eden Confluence to Yalding Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106040018182
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTQ6820248984
  • Catchment area74.778 km2
  • Catchment area7477.812 ha
  • Length29.896 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishGood
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoor
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenGood
PhosphatePoor
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
IronHigh
TriclosanHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
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

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Fish22019GoodQuite certain there is a problem
Fish32019GoodQuite certain there is a problem
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined22015ModerateQuite certain there is a problem
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined22014ModerateQuite certain there is a problem

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
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)RecreationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)NavigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RFDHigh to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationRecreationNavigationFishDetails
RNAGPoint sourcePrivate Sewage TreatmentDomestic General PublicMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleFishDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails

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 management1000020
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation1000000
Urban and transport1000000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0010000
Recreation1000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total5210020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Biological quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
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
Bourne NVZS494Nitrates Directive
River Medway at MaidstoneSWSGZ4007Safeguard Zone
Lesser Teise and Bewl Water ReservoirSWSGZ4223Safeguard Zone

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
D/S TONBRIDGE POSTERN LANE E00007792010, 2009, 2011, 20122015, 2016
MEDWAY CANNON BRIDGE E00004002011, 2009, 2012, 20102015, 2016
MEDWAY/MEDWAY - MAIN RIVER/BEWLEYS WEIR/ 85482011, 2012, 2010, 2013
144507 1445072009, 2010
MEDWAY ENSFIELD BRIDGE E00004032011, 2009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2014
44312 443122014, 2009, 20102016, 2014, 2015
R MEDWAY HARTLAKE E00003972011, 2009, 2012, 20102019, 2016, 20152019
44110 441102010, 2011
44315 443152014, 2009, 2010, 20112014, 2016, 2015
BOTANY STRM U/S TONBRIDGE STW E00007822009, 2011, 2010, 2012
MEDWAY/MEDWAY - MAIN RIVER/PENSHURST/ 29762011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20132016, 2014, 2019, 2015, 20132019
MEDWAY/MEDWAY - MAIN RIVER/GOLDEN GREEN/ 171912014, 2010, 20132014
MEDWAY/MEDWAY - MAIN RIVER/YALDING LEAS/ 137132014, 2012, 2010, 20132016, 2014, 2019, 2015, 20132019
MEDWAY/MEDWAY - MAIN RIVER/SOVEREIGN WAY TONBRIDGE/ 365272011, 2014, 2012, 20132016, 2014, 2019, 2015, 20132019

Downstream water bodies