Ouse (Brackley to Buckingham) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105033037860
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSP6628234132
  • Catchment area6385.929 ha
  • Length22.564 km
  • Catchment area63.859 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsHighHigh
FishHighHigh
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
PhosphateModeratePoor
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessmentDoes not require assessment

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

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Phosphate22014ModerateVery certain there is a problem

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 TypeSWMIActivityCategoryClassification ElementMore information
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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 issuePhysical modificationsPollution from waste waterPollution from towns, cities and transportChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPollution from rural areasPollution from abandoned mines
Agriculture and rural land management1000020
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport1000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total3100020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2015
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
River Great OuseUKENRI61Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Headwaters of the Great OuseUKENRI61_&_UKENRI83bUrban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Great Ouse NVZS391Nitrates Directive
Anglian Great OoliteG73Nitrates 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.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
56480 564802009, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 20112016, 2014, 2015, 2013
UPPER OUSE/GREAT OUSE (BRACKLEY TO NEWPORT PAGNELL)/WATER STRATFORD/ 46232010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2013, 2016, 2014
92776 9277620142016, 2015, 2014, 2013
R.OUSE FULWELL CROSSING 01M0520142015, 2019, 2016, 20142019, 2022
UPPER OUSE/GREAT OUSE (BRACKLEY TO NEWPORT PAGNELL)/BUCKINGHAM/ 46252010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012
R.OUSE BOURTON MILL 01M072009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102015, 2019, 2013, 2016, 20142019
UPPER OUSE/GREAT OUSE (BRACKLEY TO NEWPORT PAGNELL)/WESTBURY/ 46222010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2013, 2016, 2014
R.OUSE WATER STRATFORD RD.BR. 01M142009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102015, 2019, 2013, 2016, 20142019, 2022
56491 564912014, 2013, 2010, 20112016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022

Downstream water bodies