Mersey Mouth Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get Mersey Mouth data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB641211630001
- Water Body TypeCoastal Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRSJ2203698923
- Surface area42119.627 ha
- Surface area421.196 km2
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Invertebrates | Good | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Good | Good |
| Phytoplankton | Moderate | Moderate |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High | High |
| 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 |
| 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 | Good | |
| Priority substances | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Aclonifen | Good | |
| Alachlor | Good | |
| Bifenox | Good | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Napthalene | Good | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | |
| Octylphenol | Good | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | Does not require assessment |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | |
| para - para DDT | Good |
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 Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Phytoplankton | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Invertebrates | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Other pressures | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | 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 | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Sector under investigation | 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 | 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 0 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Biological quality elements | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2021 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| 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 | Not assessed | 2015 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| Aclonifen | Good | 2015 | |
| Alachlor | Good | 2015 | |
| Bifenox | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Napthalene | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Octylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
| para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morecambe Bay And Duddon Estuary | UK9020326 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Morecambe Bay | UK11045 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Morecambe Bay | UK0013027 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| The Dee Estuary | UK11082 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Ribble & Alt Estuaries | UK9005103 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Formby | UK41200 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Sefton Coast | UK0013076 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Ribble & Alt Estuaries | UK11057 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| St Annes North | UK41900 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Bispham | UK42600 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Ribble | UKSW111 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Dee Estuary | UK0030131 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| North Wirral (West) | UKSW110 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| North Wirral (East) | UKSW109 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Blackpool South | UK42100 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Cleveleys | UK42800 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Moreton | UK40900 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Wallasey | UK41000 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| The Dee Estuary | UK9013011 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Blackpool North | UK42500 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Shell Flat And Lune Deep | UK0030376 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Liverpool Bay | UK9020294 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Mersey Narrows & North Wirral Foreshore | UK11042 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Meols | UK40800 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Dee (East) | UKSW108 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| St Annes | UK41800 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Mersey Narrows & North Wirral Foreshore | UK9020287 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Ainsdale | UK41300 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Blackpool Central | UK42300 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Southport | UK41500 | 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.