Broadland Rivers Management Catchment

About

The Broadland Rivers catchment is an iconic landscape. The upper reaches of the rivers, including the river Wensum, one of the most important chalk river habitats in the country, and the river Waveney, a classic lowland river, contrast with the low lying reaches further down the catchment where the land is mostly at or below sea level. Amongst these slow flowing rivers lie the Broads, an area of interconnected lakes and wetlands. The ecology of these lower reaches is affected by tidal surges from the North Sea as well as what happens upstream.

Remains of Brograve windmill on the River Thurne

Classifications data for Broadland Rivers Management Catchment

Number of water bodies

The number of water bodies in the river basin district. It shows whether these are natural, artificial (such as canals and reservoirs) or have been modified ('heavily modified') for particular uses.

Water body categoriesNaturalArtificialHeavily modifiedTotal
River, canals and surface water transfers2013960
Lake811221
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total2825181

Ecological status for surface waters

Table summarises the current ecological status of surface water bodies. Water bodies are classified as being at high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status or potential.

Ecological status or potentialBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
Number of water bodies117603081
Number of water body elements1450114105436719

Chemical status for surface waters

Table summarises the current chemical status of water bodies. These are classified as being at good or fail.

Chemical statusFailGoodTotal
Number of water bodies81081
Number of water body elements9510511146

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

Quantitative status for groundwater

Table summarises the quantitative status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Quantitative statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Chemical status for groundwater

Table summarises the chemical status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Chemical statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Challenges data for Broadland Rivers Management Catchment

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 issueChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPhysical modificationsPollution from abandoned minesPollution from rural areasPollution from towns, cities and transportPollution from waste water
Agriculture and rural land management3027012100
Domestic general public0010030
Industry0000010
Local & central government00140000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation00110000
No sector responsible0120000
Other10130000
Recreation00130000
Sector under investigation0090000
Urban and transport0010050
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry20200031
Total61930121931

Objectives data for Broadland Rivers Management Catchment

Ecological status or potential objectives for surface water bodies

Table summarises the ecological status and ecological potential objectives set for water bodies in the river basin management plan. Each water body is only counted once in this table. Each water body objective consists of a target status and a date when it was, or is expected to be, met.

StatusBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
By 201507153025
By 2021002204
By 202701150052
Total081855081

51 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for surface water bodies

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusFailGoodTotal
By 206308181
Total08181

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Quantitative status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000