Char Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB108044009790
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSY4021596630
  • Catchment area3825.28 ha
  • Catchment area38.253 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length13.82 km

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModeratePoor
Biological quality elementsModeratePoor
FishModeratePoor
InvertebratesHighHigh
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateGood
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenGoodHigh
PhosphateModerateGood
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeHighHigh
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 CompoundsFail
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 sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourcePrivate Sewage TreatmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails

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 management0000020
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
Total0000020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Biological quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
FishModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
InvertebratesGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
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 CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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
Sidmouth To West BayUK0019864Special 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
RIVER CHAR AT WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM 500505512009, 2012, 2013, 20142013, 2016, 2019, 2014, 20152019
WEST DORSET STREAMS/RIVER CHAR/DOLPHIN CARAVAN PARK/ 219062012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
10917 109172009, 2013, 20142019, 2015, 2013, 20142019, 2022
RIVER CHAR AT CHARMOUTH A35 BRIDGE 500505252009, 20142016, 2019, 2014, 20152019
CHAR U/S LOWER MONKWOOD FARM RSN06912022
WEST DORSET STREAMS/RIVER CHAR/SEADOWN CARAVAN PARK/ 87282010, 2011
WEST DORSET STREAMS/RIVER CHAR/BECKLANDS FARM/ 218872012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 20192022, 2019
WEST DORSET STREAMS/RIVER CHAR/WHITECHURCH CANONICORUM/ 218862012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
WEST DORSET STREAMS/RIVER CHAR/BEFFERLANDS FARM/ 218882012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 20192022, 2019

Upstream water bodies

Downstream water bodies