Middle Level Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB205033000050
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationartificial
  • NGRTL2387187267
  • Catchment area61515.008 ha
  • Length191.506 km
  • Catchment area615.15 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishHigh
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenPoor
PhosphateModerate
TemperatureGood
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
ChlorothalonilHigh
CopperHigh
IronHigh
LinuronHigh
ManganeseHigh
PendimethalinHigh
ZincHigh
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
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
QuinoxyfenGood
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous)Good
Priority substancesGood
1,2-dichloroethaneGood
AclonifenGood
AlachlorGood
AtrazineGood
BifenoxGood
CybutryneGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
PentachlorophenolGood
SimazineGood
TerbutrynGood
TrichloromethaneGood
Other PollutantsGood
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood
Carbon TetrachlorideGood
TrichloroethyleneGood
para - para DDTGood

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Hydrological Regime22015Does Not Support GoodCertain there is not 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
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RFDPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGFlowNo further action (Flow is below the EFI but NOT causing an ecological failure)No sector responsibleHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation 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 management0000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation3000000
Total3100000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2015
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2015
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
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
LinuronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyreneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
EndosulfanGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
QuinoxyfenGood2015
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Priority substancesGood2015
1,2-dichloroethaneGood2015
AclonifenGood2015
AlachlorGood2015
AtrazineGood2015
BifenoxGood2015
CybutryneGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
PentachlorophenolGood2015
SimazineGood2015
TerbutrynGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015
TrichloroethyleneGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Nene WashesUK9008031Special Protection AreaNatural England
Nene WashesUK11046Ramsar SiteNatural England
Woodwalton FenUK11078Ramsar SiteNatural England
Relief Channel/Polver drain NVZS834Nitrates Directive
Middle LevelUKENRI70Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
FenlandUK0014782Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Nene WashesUK0030222Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Middle Level NVZS386Nitrates 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
56395 563952016, 2014, 2015
56134 561342016, 2014, 2015
SIXTEEN FOOT DRN.COTTONS CORNER 53M392015, 2013, 2016, 2014
FORTY FOOT R. CARTERS RD.BR.CHATTERIS 53M372015, 2016, 2014
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/BEVILLS LEAM/CHAPEL BRIDGE/ 49022019, 20162019
56229 562292016, 2014, 2015, 2013
OLD COURSE R.NENE BENWICK RD.BR. 53M092015, 2019, 2016, 20142019
56102 561022016, 2015, 2014, 2013
56208 562082016, 2019, 2015, 20132019
56170 561702016, 2014, 2015
GT.RAVELEY DRN.WOOD WALTON FEN SLUICE 53M462015, 2019, 2013, 2016, 20142019
56184 561842016, 2014, 2015
TWENTY FOOT R.HOLLOWAYS FARM 53M532016, 2015, 2014, 2013
BEVILLS LEAM CHAPEL BRIDGE 53M072015, 2019, 2013, 2016, 20142019
MIDDLE LEVEL CATCHWATER THISTLE HILL FM. 53M192015
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/TWENTY FOOT DRAIN/GOOSETREE CORNER/ 48742019, 20162019
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/KINGS DYKE/WHITTLESEY/ 48992019, 20162019
56068 560682016, 2014, 2015
56399 563992016, 2015, 2013
56394 563942016, 2014, 2015, 2013
WHITTLESEY DYKE TURNING TREE BRIDGE 53M042016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 20192019
56218 562182016, 2014, 2015
MIDDLE LEVEL MD MULLICOURT PRIORY SLUICE 53M142016, 2015, 2014, 2019, 20132019
OLD COURSE R.NENE ANDREWS FARM MARCH 53M542016, 2015, 2014, 2019, 20132019
WELL CREEK MULLICOURT PRIORY AQUEDUCT 53M572016, 2015, 2014, 2013
SIXTEEN FOOT DRN.BENSONS FARM RD.BR. 53M762015, 2016
56188 561882019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 20132019

Upstream water bodies

Downstream water bodies