Medlock (Lumb Brook to Irwell) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112069061152
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSD9022900552
  • Catchment area25.918 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length13.187 km
  • Catchment area2591.78 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsPoorPoor
FishPoorPoor
InvertebratesModerateModerate
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerateModerate
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)HighGood
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureGoodHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
IronHighHigh
PermethrinHighHigh
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 CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Cypermethrin (Priority)Fail
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
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityIndustryFishDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryFishDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityUrban and transportFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes 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

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
Industry1000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0500000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation2000000
Total3500000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately 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
FishModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
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)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
IronHigh2015
PermethrinHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural 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 CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Rochdale CanalUK0030266Special 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 MEDLOCK AT PINMILL BROW 880024132013, 2009, 2012, 2010, 2011, 20142013, 2016, 2019, 2015, 20142019, 2022
67311 673112010, 2011, 20092015, 2016
LORDS BROOK ABOVE CONF RIVER MEDLOCK 8800240720092016, 2015
RIVER MEDLOCK AT CLAYTON BRIDGE 8800240920192019
MERSEY/IRWELL/MEDLOCK/MDME20/ 70592011, 2014, 20122019, 2015, 2016, 20142019
MERSEY/IRWELL/MEDLOCK/MDME25/ 70602011, 2012

Upstream water bodies