Avon Urban Rivers and Lakes Operational Catchment

About

This catchment includes the rivers Sowe, Sherbourne, Arrow and Alne and the conurbations of Coventry, Redditch and Alcester. It is largely urban, although arable farming is the main land use activity in the south. Water abstraction for industry and public drinking water supplies is significant within the catchment, including a number of potable groundwater abstractions. The catchment provides a variety of recreational activities including angling, sailing and water sports. Designated sites in the catchment include Sites of Special Scientific Interest at Bittell Reservoir in the Upper Arrow Valley and Brandon Marsh near Coventry.

Fish pass on River Sowe at Stoneleigh

Classifications data for Avon Urban Rivers and Lakes Operational 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 transfers170320
Lake0011
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total170421

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 bodies08130021
Number of water body elements2232819123195

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 bodies21021
Number of water body elements64219283

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 Avon Urban Rivers and Lakes Operational 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 management00203900
Domestic general public0000070
Industry0000020
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation1000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport00400160
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry4000008
Total507039258

Objectives data for Avon Urban Rivers and Lakes Operational 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 201500100010
By 202700110011
Total001110021

11 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 206302121
Total02121

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