Upper Colne and Ellen Brook Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106039029820
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTL1846103413
  • Catchment area95.463 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length13.877 km
  • Catchment area9546.294 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModeratePoor
Biological quality elementsModeratePoor
InvertebratesModeratePoor
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModeratePoor
Macrophytes Sub ElementModeratePoor
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighGood
Dissolved oxygenModeratePoor
PhosphateModeratePoor
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support goodDoes not support good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ManganeseHighHigh
TriclosanHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
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 IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationReservoir / Impoundment - non flow relatedOtherInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGFlowGroundwater abstractionWater IndustryHydrological RegimeDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand use - arableAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeMining and quarryingInvertebratesDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceTransport DrainageUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportDissolved oxygenDetails

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 management1000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0040000
Water Industry0002000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0040000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other1000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2082000

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 elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhosphateGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support good2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
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
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2015
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
NonylphenolGood2015
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
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Lower Thames (Cookham Egham Teddington)SWSGZ4016Safeguard 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
COLNE AT LONDON COLNEY PCNR01892009, 2013, 2011, 2012, 20102016, 2015, 20192019, 2022
34081 340812014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20112016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019, 2022
34050 340502019, 2015, 20132019, 2022
COLNE BELOW TYTTENHANGER PCNR03652016, 20192019
COLNE/DROP LANE/ 104342010, 2013