Derwent Operational Catchment

About

The Derwent operational catchment rises in the north lakeland fells before flowing down to the Irish Sea at Workington. It includes iconic lakes such as Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake with large parts both within the Lake District National Park and in the Derwent & Tributaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The vibrant tourist industry is centred in and round Keswick, and land use dominated by sheep farming with some beef and dairy farms in the lower catchment. There are a number of abandoned metal mines in the upper catchments and also a key public water supply at Thirlmere.

Derwent Water

Classifications data for Derwent 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 transfers160319
Lake3025
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total190524

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 bodies011013024
Number of water body elements131344199260

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 bodies24024
Number of water body elements52351403

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 Derwent 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 management0010400
Domestic general public0000020
Industry0000000
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0006000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0030000
Urban and transport0010010
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry0010000
Total0076430

Objectives data for Derwent 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 201500011011
By 2021000303
By 202700010010
Total00024024

10 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 206302424
Total02424

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