MEDWAY Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB530604002300
  • Water Body TypeTransitional Water
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRTQ8221370920
  • Surface area5809.492 ha
  • Surface area58.095 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsGoodGood
InvertebratesGoodGood
Infaunal Quality IndexGoodGood
MacroalgaeGoodGood
Opportunistic MacroalgaeGoodGood
PhytoplanktonHighHigh
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerateModerate
Dissolved oxygenGoodGood
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodDoes not support good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or lessModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
2,4-dichlorophenolHighHigh
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acidHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
ChlorothalonilHighHigh
Chromium (VI)HighHigh
CopperHighHigh
DiazinonHighHigh
DimethoateHighHigh
IronHighHigh
LinuronHighHigh
MecopropHighHigh
PendimethalinHighHigh
PermethrinHighHigh
TolueneHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
AnthraceneGood
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneFail
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
EndosulfanGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
PentachlorobenzeneGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
QuinoxyfenGood
Tributyltin CompoundsFail
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous)Good
Priority substancesFailDoes not require assessment
1,2-dichloroethaneGood
AclonifenGood
AlachlorGood
AtrazineGood
BenzeneGood
BifenoxGood
CybutryneGood
Dichlorvos (Priority)Fail
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
NapthaleneGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
PentachlorophenolGood
SimazineGood
TerbutrynGood
TrichlorobenzenesGood
TrichloromethaneGood
Other PollutantsGoodDoes not require assessment
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood
Carbon TetrachlorideGood
DDT TotalGood
TetrachloroethyleneGood
TrichloroethyleneGood
para - para DDTGood

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen22016ModerateCertain there is not a problem
Tributyltin Compounds22013FailVery certain 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
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(g-h-i)peryleneDetails
RFDHigh to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleInvertebratesDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryTributyltin CompoundsDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationDichlorvos (Priority)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourceContaminated landIndustryTributyltin CompoundsDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceContaminated water body bed sedimentsIndustryTributyltin CompoundsDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total1120000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Biological quality elementsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
MacroalgaeGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
2,4-dichlorophenolHigh2015
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acidHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
DiazinonHigh2015
DimethoateHigh2015
IronHigh2015
LinuronHigh2015
MecopropHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
PermethrinHigh2015
TolueneHigh2015
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
AnthraceneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
EndosulfanGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
PentachlorobenzeneGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
QuinoxyfenGood2015
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Priority substancesGood2039Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
1,2-dichloroethaneGood2015
AclonifenGood2015
AlachlorGood2015
AtrazineGood2015
BenzeneGood2015
BifenoxGood2015
CybutryneGood2015
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good2039Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
NapthaleneGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
PentachlorophenolGood2015
SimazineGood2015
TerbutrynGood2015
TrichlorobenzenesGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015
DDT TotalGood2015
TetrachloroethyleneGood2015
TrichloroethyleneGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Outer Thames EstuaryUK9020309Special Protection AreaNatural England
Thames Estuary & MarshesUK9012021Special Protection AreaNatural England
Thames Estuary & MarshesUK11069Ramsar SiteNatural England
SheppeyUKSW27Shellfish Water Directive
Medway Estuary & MarshesUK11040Ramsar SiteNatural England
Medway Estuary & MarshesUK9012031Special Protection AreaNatural England
SouthendUKSW23Shellfish Water Directive
SheernessUK11950Bathing 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
SNODLAND CHURCH E00003132012, 2011, 2010, 20132016, 20192019
D/S KINGSNORTH POWER STN (EMZ) E00174692012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011
WHITEWALL CREEK E00002632010, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2011
D/S AYLESFORD STW (EMZ) E00174662012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20112019, 2016, 20152019
GILLINGHAM STRAND E000024620132015, 2016, 20192019
NORTH KENT BUOY E00002042013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 20102015, 2016, 20192019
D/S SCA PACKAGING LTD (EMZ) E00174682010, 2013, 2011, 2012
UPTIDE OF HOO ISLAND EQSD MUSSELS E000718220192019
BARTLETT CREEK E00004442012, 2009, 2010, 2013, 20112016, 2019, 20152019
D/S SMURFITT TOWNSEND HOOK-EMZ E00174702010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 20122019, 2016, 20152019
SUN PIER CHATHAM E00002662012, 2011, 2010, 20132016, 20192019
D/S GRAIN POWER STATION (EMZ) E00174672009, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011
D/S REEDS PAPER MILL-PYLONS E00003292012, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2011
D/S AKZO NOBEL NO 1 (EMZ) E00174642009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2012
D/S RUGBY CEMENT 1 AND 2 (EMZ) E00174622012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009
OAKHAM NESS E00002242013
TS ARETHUSA E0000260201320192019
HOO MUSSEL TISSUE E00002382015, 2019, 20162019
EQSD DS COLEMOUTH CREEK E00070412019, 2015, 20162019
D/S AYLESFORD NEWSPRINT (EMZ) E00174652010, 2009, 2013, 2012, 20112019, 2016, 20152019

Downstream water bodies