Weaver Upper Operational Catchment

About

The Upper Weaver Operational Catchment is located in South Cheshire and is dominated by agricultural land. The main rivers in this catchment include the River Weaver and Valley Brook. The River Weaver flows through dairy farmed areas of Cheshire, through Nantwich and onto Winsford where it becomes impounded and navigable. There are a number of lakes within this operational catchment that form part of the Meres and Mosses Nature Improvement Area which is an important landscape for wildlife and contains a number of important protected habitats. Many of these meres and mosses are fed by groundwater in permeable sands and gravels. All river water bodies eventually drain into the Lower Weaver Operational Catchment and eventually into the Mersey Estuary.

Photograph of the rural River Weaver

Classifications data for Weaver Upper 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 transfers240327
Lake60410
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total300737

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 bodies215191037
Number of water body elements6504932138275

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 bodies37037
Number of water body elements81348429

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 Weaver Upper 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 management000025600
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0100000
Other0010000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation00120000
Urban and transport0020040
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry00000022
Total01150256422

Objectives data for Weaver Upper 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 2015002103
By 2021001001
By 202700330033
Total00631037

33 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 206303737
Total03737

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