Irwell / Manchester Ship Canal (Irk to confluence with Upper Mersey) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112069061452
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSJ7798798094
  • Catchment area61.939 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Length15.036 km
  • Catchment area6193.892 ha

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHighHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)ModerateModerate
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)ModerateHigh
Dissolved oxygenBadModerate
PhosphatePoorPoor
TemperatureHighHigh
pHHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ManganeseHighHigh
PermethrinHighHigh
PhenolHighHigh
TriclosanHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
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 CompoundsFail
Priority substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Cypermethrin (Priority)Fail
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
TrichloromethaneGood
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
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RFDMonitoring Site Changed (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationInland boating and structuresNavigationDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceContaminated water body bed sedimentsUrban and transportDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceContaminated water body bed sedimentsIndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceContaminated water body bed sedimentsWater IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)NavigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryDissolved oxygenDetails
RFDPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourceContaminated landUrban and transportAmmonia (Phys-Chem)Details
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeIndustryAmmonia (Phys-Chem)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
Industry0020000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation2000000
Urban and transport1020000
Water Industry0500000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total4540000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsNot assessed2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Dissolved oxygenGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhosphatePoor2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PermethrinHigh2015
PhenolHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
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 CompoundsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Priority substancesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

No data to show

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
MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL AT IRLAM LOCKS 880024402016, 2013, 2015, 2014, 20192022, 2019
MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL U/S BARTON LOCKS 880202912016, 20192019
IRWELL AT REGENT RD BRIDGE (A57) 880023832016, 2019, 20152022, 2019
MSC AT SALFORD WESTERN GATEWAY CROSSING 8802423520192022, 2019
MSC AT MEDIA CITY FOOTBRIDGE 8802462720192022, 2019