Small River Lee (and tributaries) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106038033200
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTL3580005356
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo
  • Catchment area40.034 km2
  • Length19.994 km
  • Catchment area4003.363 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishHigh
InvertebratesModerate
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenModerate
PhosphatePoor
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
MorphologySupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
TriclosanHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment

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

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined22016Moderate

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
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceMisconnectionsDomestic General PublicInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGInvasive non-native speciesOther riparian plantsNo sector responsibleMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RFDPhysical modificationUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RFDFlowLand drainageOtherMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RFDUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationPerfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)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 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 transport2030000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0010000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000100
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2140100

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhosphateGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
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)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
LEE NVZS443Nitrates Directive
Lee ValleyUK9012111Special Protection AreaNatural England
Lee ValleyUK11034Ramsar SiteNatural England

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
LEE/SMALL RIVER LEE/SMALL RIVER LEE, WALTHAM ABBEY/ 80802010, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20092015, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20192019
LEE NAV SUBSIDIARY B AT KEIDES WEIR PLER00832011
LEE/TURNFORD BROOK/THE NIGHTLEYS REC GROUND/ 368872013, 2014, 20122015, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20192019
LEE/POWDER MILL CUT/ 111082010, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2009
LEE/SMALL RIVER LEE/WINDMILL LANE/ 368892013, 2014, 20122015, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20192019
LEE/LEE NAVIGATION/ENFIELD LOCK/ 80912010, 2013, 2009
33864 3386420142016, 2015, 2019, 20142019
SMALL LEE ABOVE TURKEY BROOK PLER02072015, 2016, 20192019
34186 341862012, 2010, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2016, 2019, 20142019

Upstream water bodies