Sussex Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB640704540003
  • Water Body TypeCoastal Water
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSZ9220396431
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Surface area189.925 km2
  • Surface area18992.489 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsGood
InvertebratesGood
ImposexGood
PhytoplanktonGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGood
Dissolved oxygenHigh
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
CopperHigh
IronHigh
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)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGood
FluorantheneGood
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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation 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 Industry0000000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total1000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGood2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Solent And Dorset CoastUK9020330Special Protection AreaNatural England
Pagham HarbourUK9012041Special Protection AreaNatural England
Lancing, Beach GreenUK15300Bathing Water Directive
Brighton CentralUK14950Bathing Water Directive
Pagham HarbourUK11052Ramsar SiteNatural England
SeafordUK14600Bathing Water Directive
FelphamUK15650Bathing Water Directive
SaltdeanUK14800Bathing Water Directive
Shoreham BeachUK15200Bathing Water Directive
Bognor Regis (Aldwick)UK15700Bathing Water Directive
Birling GapUK14550Bathing Water Directive
SouthwickUK15100Bathing Water Directive
LittlehamptonUK15500Bathing Water Directive
WorthingUK15400Bathing Water Directive
SelseyUK15900Bathing Water Directive
HoveUK15000Bathing Water Directive
PaghamUK15800Bathing Water Directive
Brighton KemptownUK14900Bathing Water Directive
Bognor Regis EastUK15680Bathing Water Directive
Middleton-on-seaUK15600Bathing Water 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
SEAFORD MONITORING POINT F00018552010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2012
LITTLEHAMPTON MONITORING POINT F00019102010, 2012, 2013, 2009, 2011
SHOREHAM COASTAL MONITOR F00173032010, 2012, 2013, 2009, 2011
PORTOBELLO MONITORING POINT F00018692010, 2012, 2013, 2009, 20112015, 2016
WORTHING COASTAL F00018982012, 2013, 2010, 2011
SUSSEX COAST OFF PEACEHAVEN E00048972015, 2016

Downstream water bodies