Lee (from Luton Hoo Lakes to Hertford) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB106038033392
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRTL2208912451
  • Catchment area9863.59 ha
  • Length31.748 km
  • Catchment area98.636 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsGood
InvertebratesGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedHigh
Macrophytes Sub ElementHigh
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenModerate
PhosphatePoor
TemperatureGood
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
Chromium (VI)High
CopperHigh
IronHigh
ManganeseHigh
PermethrinHigh
TriclosanHigh
ZincHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesFail
Cypermethrin (Priority)Fail
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
PentachlorophenolGood
Other PollutantsGood
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood
para - para DDTGood

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

Investigations into classification status

Classification ElementCycleYearStatusOutcome
Fluoranthene22013FailQuite 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 TypeSWMIActivityCategoryClassification ElementMore information
RNAGSuspect dataNot applicableNo sector responsibleMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes 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
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RFDHigh to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleTemperatureDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails

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 Industry0200000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0200000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateModerate2027Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PermethrinHigh2015
TriclosanHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown;
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 (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyreneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2015
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous)Good2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2015
NonylphenolGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2039Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2039Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
PentachlorophenolGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
LEE NVZS443Nitrates Directive
Lea Navigation & River LeeUKENRI59Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
HatfieldG93Nitrates 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
LEE/BUSH HALL/ 293632012, 2010, 2013, 2011
33938 339382009, 2010, 2011
LEE/BATFORD/ 300722012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2014
LEE/HYDE MILL/ 80972010
34340 343402009, 2011, 2014, 2010, 2012, 20132019, 2016, 2014, 2015, 20132019
LEE/WATERDALE/ 80882010
LEE/BAYFORD/ 113152012, 2011
143600 1436002014, 2010, 2013, 2011
LEE/WOOLMERS PARK/ 81032012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2014
LEE AT WATERHALL PLER00762010, 2011, 2013, 2012, 2014, 20092015, 2016, 2014, 2019, 20132019
34151 341512009, 2010, 2011
LEE AT HOLWELL BRIDGE PLER00652010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2016, 2013, 2014
LEE ABOVE LUTON ( EAST HYDE ) STW PLER00502009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012
34150 341502009, 2014, 2010, 2012, 2011, 2013
LEE AT WHEATHAMPSTEAD PLER00772010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2016, 2019, 2013, 20142019
LEE/ESSENDON/ 113812010
LEE AT EAST HYDE RD BRIDGE PLER00612010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20122015, 2016, 2019, 2013, 20142019
34148 341482009, 2010, 2012, 2011, 2014, 20132019, 2015, 2016, 20142019
LEE AT STANBOROUGH PLER00742010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012
LEE/STANBOROUGH PARK/ 113002012, 2010, 2013, 2011
34339 343392009, 2014, 2010, 2012, 2011, 2013
143601 1436012014, 2013, 2011
LEE/WATEREND/ 300632012, 2013, 2011
34153 341532014, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2011
LEE/WHEATHAMPSTEAD/ 77052012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2014