Bristol Channel Inner South Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB640807670000
  • Water Body TypeCoastal Water
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRST0507853339
  • Surface area33840.293 ha
  • Surface area338.403 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsModerateModerate
InvertebratesGoodGood
Infaunal Quality IndexGoodGood
MacroalgaeGoodGood
Opportunistic MacroalgaeHighHigh
Rocky Shore MacroalgaeGoodGood
PhytoplanktonModerateModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsGoodGood
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGoodGood
Dissolved oxygenHighHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
ArsenicHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
IronHighHigh
ZincHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
Benzo(a)pyreneFail
Benzo(b)fluorantheneFail
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneFail
Benzo(k)fluorantheneFail
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
OctylphenolGood
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
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(g-h-i)peryleneDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RFDUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPhytoplanktonDetails
RFDHigh to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleMacroalgaeDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationInvertebratesDetails

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
EcologicalGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
MacroalgaeGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
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
NonylphenolGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
OctylphenolGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Severn EstuaryUK9015022Special Protection AreaNatural England
Severn EstuaryUK11081Ramsar SiteNatural England
Severn EstuaryUK0013030Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Exmoor HeathsUK0030040Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Minehead TerminusUK35000Bathing Water Directive
Blue Anchor WestUK35200Bathing Water Directive
Dunster BeachUK35100Bathing 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
NE OF STEEPHOLME 605200512013, 2011, 20122015, 2019, 20162019
SEI WATCHET BAY 6051000120132015, 2019, 20162019
INNER BRISTOL CHANNEL OFF MINEHEAD B 6051002720132015, 2019, 20162019
MINEHEAD STW OF DSUBS 609100512010, 2011

Upstream water bodies

Downstream water bodies