Ash (from confluence with Bury Green Brook to Lee) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106038033290
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTL3992015603
  • Catchment area27.998 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length11.872 km
  • Catchment area2799.801 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalPoorModerate
Biological quality elementsPoorGood
FishPoorGood
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGoodGood
Macrophytes Sub ElementGoodGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenGoodGood
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support goodDoes not support good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
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

No data to show

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
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourcePrivate Sewage TreatmentDomestic General PublicPhosphateDetails
RFDMonitoring Site Changed (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsiblePhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails

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 management0000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0101000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0101000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphatePoor2021Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
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
LEE NVZS443Nitrates Directive
Lee ValleyUK9012111Special Protection AreaNatural England
Lee ValleyUK11034Ramsar SiteNatural England
LeeSWSGZ4006Safeguard Zone

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
152883 1528832014, 2012, 2013, 20112019, 2014, 2015, 2013, 20162019, 2022
LEE/ASH/EASENEYE WEIR REMOVAL/ 287842012, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2011
ASH AT DISUSED RAILWAY BRIDGE, WARESIDE PLER06752022
LEE/ASH/U/S FORD WATERPLACE FARM/ 113852009
34359 343592009, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 201120192022, 2019
ASH AT EASNEYE PLER00052009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 20142015, 2019, 2016, 2013, 20142022, 2019
LEE/ASH/MUCH HADHAM FULLY QUANTITATIVE/ 368902014, 20132014, 2015, 2013, 2016, 20192022, 2019
ASH BELOW WIDFORD AND WARESIDE STW PLER067420192022, 2019
LEE/ASH/WATERSPLACE FARM/ 107212012, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2011
33889 338892014, 2012, 2011, 2013
LEE/ASH/HOLLYCROSS ROAD/ 346702014, 2012, 2013, 20112014, 2015, 2013, 2016, 20192022, 2019
LEE/ASH/BLAKESWARE ESTATE ENHANCEMENT DOWNSTREAM/ 125182009
ASH AT BRIDGE NORTH OF WIDFORD PLER00042009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 20142015, 2019, 2016, 2013, 20142022, 2019
34360 343602009, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 20132014, 2013, 2019, 2015, 20162019, 2022
LEE/ASH/WARESIDE FULLY QUANTITATIVE/ 368722014, 20132014, 2015, 2013, 2016, 20192022, 2019
33918 3391820192022, 2019
ASH AT WATERSPLACE FARM PLER06332022