Blackwater Outer Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get Blackwater Outer data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB650503200000
- Water Body TypeCoastal Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRTM0436309635
- Surface area4887.941 ha
- Surface area48.879 km2
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate |
| Angiosperms | Moderate |
| Saltmarsh | Moderate |
| Invertebrates | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Good |
| Macroalgae | High |
| Opportunistic Macroalgae | High |
| Phytoplankton | Moderate |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good |
| Specific pollutants | High |
| Arsenic | High |
| Chromium (VI) | High |
| Copper | High |
| Iron | High |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High |
| Zinc | High |
| Chemical | Fail |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail |
| Anthracene | Good |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Fail |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail |
| Nonylphenol | Good |
| Pentachlorobenzene | Good |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail |
| Quinoxyfen | Good |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good |
| Priority substances | Good |
| Aclonifen | Good |
| Alachlor | Good |
| Bifenox | Good |
| Fluoranthene | Good |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good |
| Napthalene | Good |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good |
| Octylphenol | Good |
| Trichloromethane | Good |
| Other Pollutants | Good |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good |
| para - para DDT | Good |
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 Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Angiosperms | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | 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 issue | Physical modifications | Pollution from waste water | Pollution from towns, cities and transport | Changes to the natural flow and level of water | Invasive non-native species | Pollution from rural areas | Pollution from abandoned mines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and rural land management | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Navigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Urban and transport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic general public | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Recreation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waste treatment and disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No sector responsible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sector under investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Biological quality elements | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Angiosperms | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| Macroalgae | Good | 2015 | |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Not assessed | 2015 | |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2015 | |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2015 | |
| Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Anthracene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2033 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Pentachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Quinoxyfen | Good | 2015 | |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| Aclonifen | Good | 2015 | |
| Alachlor | Good | 2015 | |
| Bifenox | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Napthalene | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Octylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
| para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Thames Estuary | UK9020309 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) | UK11018 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Blackwater | UKSW12 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Pyefleet | UKSW16 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Essex Estuaries | UK0013690 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4) | UK11007 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) | UK9009242 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4) | UK9009245 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) | UK9009243 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) | UK11015 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Dengie | UKSW18 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| West Mersea | UK11750 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Colne_E | UKSW17 | Shellfish 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.