PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB580705140000
- Water Body TypeTransitional Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRSU6153802959
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
- Surface area16.597 km2
- Surface area1659.694 ha
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Angiosperms | Moderate | Moderate |
| Saltmarsh | Moderate | Moderate |
| Seagrass | High | High |
| Invertebrates | Good | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Good | Good |
| Macroalgae | Moderate | Moderate |
| Opportunistic Macroalgae | Moderate | Moderate |
| Phytoplankton | Good | High |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High | High |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | Supports good |
| Hydrological Regime | Does not support good | Supports good |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Moderate or less | Moderate or less |
| Specific pollutants | High | High |
| Arsenic | High | High |
| Chromium (VI) | High | High |
| Copper | High | High |
| Iron | High | High |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | High |
| Zinc | High | High |
| Chemical | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail | Does not require assessment |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail | |
| Nonylphenol | Good | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail | |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | |
| Priority substances | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Cybutryne | Good | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Octylphenol | Good | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | |
| Other Pollutants | Does not require assessment | Does not require assessment |
Investigations into classification status
| Classification Element | Cycle | Year | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tributyltin Compounds | 2 | 2013 | Fail | |
| Hydrological Regime | 2 | 2013 | Does Not Support Good | Uncertain there is a problem |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | 2 | 2013 | Moderate | Very certain there is a problem |
| Macroalgae | 2 | 2013 | Moderate | 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 | Flow | No further action (Flow is below the EFI but NOT causing an ecological failure) | No sector responsible | Hydrological Regime | Details |
| RNAG | Suspect data | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Hydrological Regime | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Coastal squeeze | Sector under investigation | Angiosperms | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor nutrient management | Agriculture and rural land management | Macroalgae | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Local and Central Government | Mitigation Measures Assessment | 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 | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Coastal Background DIN | No sector responsible | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Poor nutrient management | Agriculture and rural land management | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Macroalgae | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Coastal Background DIN | No sector responsible | Macroalgae | 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 | 2 | 0 |
| Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 2 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | 2021 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | 2021 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Angiosperms | Moderate | 2021 | Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| Macroalgae | Good | 2027 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Supports good | 2015 | |
| Hydrological Regime | Does not support good | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| 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 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2021 | 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 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2021 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| Cybutryne | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Octylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Does not require assessment | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chichester,Langstone and Portsmouth Harbours Eutrophic NVZ (TraC) | ET2 | Nitrates Directive | |
| Solent And Dorset Coast | UK9020330 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Portsmouth Harbour | UKENCA111 | Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive | |
| Portsmouth Harbour | UK11055 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Portsmouth Harbour | UK9011051 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Spithead and Stokes Bay | UKSW48 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Portsmouth Harbour | UKSW34 | Shellfish 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.