PLYMOUTH TAMAR Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB520804714300
  • Water Body TypeTransitional Water
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSX4334360013
  • Surface area3011.808 ha
  • Surface area30.118 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsGoodModerate
AngiospermsHighHigh
SeagrassHighHigh
InvertebratesGoodGood
Infaunal Quality IndexGoodGood
MacroalgaeGoodModerate
Opportunistic MacroalgaeGoodModerate
PhytoplanktonHigh
Physico-chemical quality elementsHighHigh
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
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)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsFail
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
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
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 management0000000
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
Total0000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2015
AngiospermsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
MacroalgaeGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
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
ArsenicHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2021Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
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
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Plymouth Sound & EstuariesUK0013111Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Tamar Estuaries ComplexUK9010141Special Protection AreaNatural England
Plymouth Hoe WestUK26500Bathing Water Directive
Plymouth Hoe EastUK26400Bathing Water Directive

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
WESTON MILL LAKE AT TAMAR CONFLUENCE 812114042016, 2019, 20152019
PLYM ESTUARY D/S MARSH MILLS STW 811101702013, 2009, 2012, 2010, 2011
TAMAR SHELLFISH WATERS 812201642010, 2012, 201120192019
PLYMOUTH (RADFORD) STW SURFACE BOIL 811111422011, 2009, 2012, 201020192019
ST JOHNS LAKE 100M D/S TORPOINT TREVOL 812112512015, 2016
TORPOINT TREVOL OUTFALL SURFACE BOIL 812112712012, 2011, 2010, 2009
HOOE LAKE 100M D/S RADFORD STW 811111262013, 201220192019
RIVER TAMAR 250M D/S ERNESETTLE STW 812201202009, 2010, 2011, 2012
RIVER TAMAR100M D/S ERNESETTLE STW 812201302009, 2013, 2010, 2011, 2012
RIVER PLYM AT CATTEWATER 811101052011, 2013, 2009, 2010, 2012
RADFORD STW SURFACE BOIL 8111114120192019
DEVONPORT DOCKYARD O/F 5 SURFACE BOIL 8121086520192019
HOOE LAKE 100M U/S RADFORD STW 8111113120192019
RIVER PLYM 100M D/S MARSH MILL STW 811103112009, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2011
RIVER TAMAR OFF DEVIL'S POINT 812103102011, 2013, 2009, 2010, 201220192019
PLYMOUTH CENTRAL STW SURFACE BOIL 812103442011, 2012, 2010
LYNHER SHELLFISH WATER 812116302013, 2010, 2012, 20112015

Downstream water bodies