Beane (Source to Stevenage Brook) Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106038040110
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTL2941027086
  • Length18.566 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Catchment area61.473 km2
  • Catchment area6147.28 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalPoorPoor
Biological quality elementsPoorPoor
InvertebratesModerateModerate
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedPoorPoor
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoorPoor
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenGoodModerate
PhosphateModerateModerate
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports 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

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Hydrological Regime22019Supports GoodVery 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
RNAGDiffuse sourceTrack/rural roadAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourceTrack/rural roadAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceTrack/rural roadAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationReservoir / Impoundment - non flow relatedUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGInvasive non-native speciesOther riparian plantsNo sector responsibleMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand use - arableAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryHydrological RegimeDetails

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 management10000100
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport1000000
Water Industry0004000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000100
Sector under investigation0000000
Total20041100

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhosphateGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
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
Anglian ChalkG71Nitrates Directive
LeeSWSGZ4006Safeguard Zone
Buntingford ChalkG141Nitrates 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
BEANE ABOVE STEVENAGE BROOK, WATTON AT S PLER029920142015, 2016, 2019, 20142019, 2022
189111 18911120192019, 2022
34019 3401920122019, 2013, 2016, 20152019, 2022
33491 334912013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20092013, 2016, 2014, 20152022
33490 334902013, 2011, 2014, 201220192022, 2019
BEANE AT WATTON AT STONE PLER00122010, 2009
BEANE AT BEANE RD, HERTFORD PLER00102010, 2009

Upstream water bodies