MEDWAY Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get MEDWAY data
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 Item | 2019 | 2022 |
---|---|---|
Ecological | Moderate | Moderate |
Biological quality elements | Good | Good |
Invertebrates | Good | Good |
Infaunal Quality Index | Good | Good |
Macroalgae | Good | Good |
Opportunistic Macroalgae | Good | Good |
Phytoplankton | High | High |
Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | Moderate |
Dissolved oxygen | Good | Good |
Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | Supports good |
Hydrological Regime | Supports good | Does not support good |
Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Moderate | Moderate |
Mitigation Measures Assessment | Moderate or less | Moderate or less |
Specific pollutants | High | High |
2,4-dichlorophenol | High | High |
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid | High | High |
Arsenic | High | High |
Chlorothalonil | High | High |
Chromium (VI) | High | High |
Copper | High | High |
Diazinon | High | High |
Dimethoate | High | High |
Iron | High | High |
Linuron | High | High |
Mecoprop | High | High |
Pendimethalin | High | High |
Permethrin | High | High |
Toluene | High | High |
Zinc | High | High |
Chemical | Fail | Does not require assessment |
Priority hazardous substances | Fail | Does not require assessment |
Anthracene | Good | |
Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | |
Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | |
Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Fail | |
Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | |
Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | |
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | |
Endosulfan | Good | |
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | |
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | |
Hexachlorobenzene | Good | |
Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | |
Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | |
Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail | |
Nonylphenol | Good | |
Pentachlorobenzene | Good | |
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail | |
Quinoxyfen | Good | |
Tributyltin Compounds | Fail | |
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good | |
Priority substances | Fail | Does not require assessment |
1,2-dichloroethane | Good | |
Aclonifen | Good | |
Alachlor | Good | |
Atrazine | Good | |
Benzene | Good | |
Bifenox | Good | |
Cybutryne | Good | |
Dichlorvos (Priority) | Fail | |
Fluoranthene | Good | |
Lead and Its Compounds | Good | |
Napthalene | Good | |
Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | |
Pentachlorophenol | Good | |
Simazine | Good | |
Terbutryn | Good | |
Trichlorobenzenes | Good | |
Trichloromethane | Good | |
Other Pollutants | Good | Does not require assessment |
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | |
Carbon Tetrachloride | Good | |
DDT Total | Good | |
Tetrachloroethylene | Good | |
Trichloroethylene | Good | |
para - para DDT | Good |
Investigations into classification status
Classification Element | Cycle | Year | Status | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | 2 | 2016 | Moderate | Certain there is not a problem |
Tributyltin Compounds | 2 | 2013 | Fail | Very 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 Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Details |
RFD | High to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only) | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Invertebrates | Details |
RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Dichlorvos (Priority) | Details |
RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
RNAG | Point source | Contaminated land | Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
RNAG | Diffuse source | Contaminated water body bed sediments | Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
RNAG | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Local and Central Government | Mitigation Measures Assessment | 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 issue | Physical modifications | Pollution from waste water | Pollution from towns, cities and transport | Changes to the natural flow and level of water | Invasive non-native species | Pollution from rural areas | Pollution from abandoned mines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture and rural land management | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Industry | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mining and quarrying | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Navigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Urban and transport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Water Industry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Local & central government | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Domestic general public | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recreation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Waste treatment and disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No sector responsible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sector under investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
---|---|---|---|
Ecological | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
Biological quality elements | Good | 2015 | |
Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
Macroalgae | Good | 2015 | |
Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | 2015 | |
Hydrological Regime | Supports good | 2021 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
2,4-dichlorophenol | High | 2015 | |
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid | High | 2015 | |
Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
Chlorothalonil | High | 2015 | |
Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
Copper | High | 2015 | |
Diazinon | High | 2015 | |
Dimethoate | High | 2015 | |
Iron | High | 2015 | |
Linuron | High | 2015 | |
Mecoprop | High | 2015 | |
Pendimethalin | High | 2015 | |
Permethrin | High | 2015 | |
Toluene | High | 2015 | |
Zinc | High | 2015 | |
Chemical | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
Anthracene | Good | 2015 | |
Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2033 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
Endosulfan | Good | 2015 | |
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | 2015 | |
Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
Pentachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
Quinoxyfen | Good | 2015 | |
Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good | 2015 | |
Priority substances | Good | 2039 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
1,2-dichloroethane | Good | 2015 | |
Aclonifen | Good | 2015 | |
Alachlor | Good | 2015 | |
Atrazine | Good | 2015 | |
Benzene | Good | 2015 | |
Bifenox | Good | 2015 | |
Cybutryne | Good | 2015 | |
Dichlorvos (Priority) | Good | 2039 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
Napthalene | Good | 2015 | |
Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
Pentachlorophenol | Good | 2015 | |
Simazine | Good | 2015 | |
Terbutryn | Good | 2015 | |
Trichlorobenzenes | Good | 2015 | |
Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
Carbon Tetrachloride | Good | 2015 | |
DDT Total | Good | 2015 | |
Tetrachloroethylene | Good | 2015 | |
Trichloroethylene | Good | 2015 | |
para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
---|---|---|---|
Outer Thames Estuary | UK9020309 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
Thames Estuary & Marshes | UK9012021 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
Thames Estuary & Marshes | UK11069 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
Sheppey | UKSW27 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
Medway Estuary & Marshes | UK11040 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
Medway Estuary & Marshes | UK9012031 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
Southend | UKSW23 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
Sheerness | UK11950 | Bathing 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.