Middle Kennet (Hungerford to Newbury) Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106039023174
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSU4529967181
  • Catchment area8487.172 ha
  • Length49.227 km
  • Catchment area84.872 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModeratePoor
Biological quality elementsModeratePoor
FishModeratePoor
InvertebratesHighHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerateModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsGoodHigh
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenGoodHigh
PhosphateGoodHigh
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
IronHighHigh
TriclosanHighHigh
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)Good
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
RNAGDiffuse sourceOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details

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 Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2039Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Ecological recovery time
Biological quality elementsGood2039Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Ecological recovery time
FishGood2039Natural conditions: Ecological recovery time
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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)Good2015
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
Lower Thames (Cookham Egham Teddington)SWSGZ4016Safeguard Zone
Kennet & Lambourn FloodplainUK0030044Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Berkshire DownsG87Nitrates Directive
River Kennet and Holy BrookSWSGZ4005Safeguard Zone
Kennet Valley AlderwoodsUK0030175Special Area of ConservationNatural England

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
KENNET 200M BELOW HUNGERFORD STW PKER01602015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
KENNET AT MARSH BENHAM PKER00502015, 2016, 20142022
THAMES/RIVER KENNET/WILLOW STREAM - BARTON COURT/ 125062015, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20192022, 2019
142632 1426322014, 2013, 2016
36082 360822016, 2014, 2015
KENNET AND AVON CANAL JUST ABOVE COPSE L PKER03162016, 2015