Cuckmere from Warbleton to Lower Horsebridge Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB107041012390
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTQ5825112158
  • Catchment area29.87 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Length17.254 km
  • Catchment area2987.001 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishHigh
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateModerate
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
MorphologySupports good
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 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
Phosphate22013PoorQuite certain there is a problem
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined22013ModerateQuite certain there is a problem
Phosphate22014PoorQuite certain there is a problem
Fish22013PoorQuite certain there is a problem
Fish22013PoorQuite 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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails

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 management0000020
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0200020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
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
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
Waldron Ghyll and River CuckmereUKENRI129Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
River CuckmereSWSGZ4004Safeguard Zone
Cuckmere from Warbleton to Lower Horsebridge NVZS518Nitrates 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
CUCKMERE/CUCKMERE TRIBUTARIES/WALDRON GILL/BROOKSIDE/ 135102010, 20092015, 2016, 20192019
R CUCKMERE SHEEPWASH BRIDGE F00020842009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102015, 2013, 2016, 2014
R CUCKMERE HORSELUNGES BRIDGE F00020822009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102015, 2013, 2016, 2014
42598 425982009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011
VINES CROSS STREAM CRALLE BR F000206720092015, 2016
CUCKMERE/HORSELUNGES BRIDGE/ 88892010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
43011 430112009
CUCKMERE/CUCKMERE TRIBUTARIES/VINES CROSS STREAM/BEESTONS/ 135112010, 2009
CUCKMERE/SHERMAN BRIDGE/ 63182011
CUCKMERE/SHEEPWASH BRIDGE/ 194092010, 2009, 20142015, 2016, 2019, 20142019
WALDRON GHYLL BROOKSIDE BRIDGE F00021102009, 2013, 2014, 2012
42208 422082013, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2010, 20092019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 20162019
WALDRON GHYLL COWDEN HALL BR F00021082009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2010
CUCKMERE/GROVE BRIDGE/ 194502010, 2009
42041 420412009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2014
43003 4300320142019, 2015, 2016, 20142019
R CUCKMERE GROVE BRIDGE F00020832009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102015, 2013, 2016, 2014
43830 438302011, 2012, 2010
CUCKMERE/CUCKMERE TRIBUTARIES/WALDRON GILL/COWDEN HALL/ 56232010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2012
42040 420402009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 20112019, 20132019

Upstream water bodies