Valley Brook (Source to Englesea Brook) Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112068074630
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSJ7969754290
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length22.676 km
  • Catchment area25.161 km2
  • Catchment area2516.13 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalPoorPoor
Biological quality elementsPoorPoor
InvertebratesPoorPoor
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerateModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)ModerateModerate
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)HighHigh
Dissolved oxygenGoodGood
PhosphateGoodGood
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeDoes not support goodDoes not support good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
Chromium (VI)HighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
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
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

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)22014ModerateQuite certain there is a problem
Copper22015ModerateCertain there is not a problem
Dissolved oxygen22014ModerateQuite certain there is a problem
Dissolved oxygen22016HighQuite certain there is a problem
Hydrological Regime22016Supports GoodUncertain 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 sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RFDPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RFDPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RFDUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
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
RFDSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGFlowUnknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationHydrological RegimeDetails
RFDHigh to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleDissolved 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 management0000040
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0010000
Water Industry0200000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0210040

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate2027 - Low confidenceTechnically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhosphateModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
IronHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
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
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
River Weaver (Dane to Frodsham) NVZS636Nitrates Directive
Midland Meres & Mosses Phase 2UK11080Ramsar SiteNatural 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
69399 693992010, 2011, 2009, 2012
68371 683712012, 2010, 2009, 2011
AUDLEY BROOK U/S OF AUDLEY STW 880006742009
VALLEY BROOK D/S BAE RADWAY GREEN TRIB 880006732009, 2010, 20112016, 2015, 20192019
TRIB D/S ROF RADWAY GREEN 880006722009, 2010, 20142016, 2019, 2015, 20142019
VALLEY BROOK AT DUNKIRK 8800066720092016, 2019, 20152019
VALLEY BROOK U/S ROF RADWAY GREEN TRIB 8800067120092016, 2019, 20152019
68316 683162012, 2010, 2009, 20112016, 20192019
AUDLEY BROOK U/S VALLEY BROOK 880006762009
66831 668312012, 2010, 2009, 2011
68370 683702012, 2010, 2009, 2011
65834 658342013, 2012, 2014, 2010, 2009, 20112014, 2013, 2016, 2015, 20192022, 2019
AUDLEY BROOK D/S OF AUDLEY WWTW 8800067520142016, 2019, 2015, 20142019
161100 16110020142016, 2019, 2014, 20152019

Upstream water bodies