Lower Axe Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB108045008870
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRST3294802891
  • Catchment area68.352 km2
  • Natural England Revised WB Protected Area targetshttp://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4788091554365440
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Length33.07 km
  • Catchment area6835.169 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementModerate
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateModerate
TemperatureGood
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
MorphologySupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
ChlorothalonilHigh
Chromium (VI)High
CopperHigh
IronHigh
ManganeseHigh
PendimethalinHigh
ZincHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneFail
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
PentachlorobenzeneGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Fail
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
QuinoxyfenGood
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGood
1,2-dichloroethaneGood
AclonifenGood
AlachlorGood
BenzeneGood
BifenoxGood
CybutryneGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
DichloromethaneGood
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
TerbutrynGood
TrichloromethaneGood
Other PollutantsGood
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood
Carbon TetrachlorideGood
DDT TotalGood
para - para DDTGood

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
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeIndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceTrade/Industry dischargeIndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(g-h-i)peryleneDetails
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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails

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 management0000020
Industry0020000
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
Total0220020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
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 (b) and (k) fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyreneGood2015
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Benzo(b)fluorantheneGood2015
Benzo(g-h-i)peryleneGood2033Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Benzo(k)fluorantheneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
PentachlorobenzeneGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2039Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
QuinoxyfenGood2015
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
1,2-dichloroethaneGood2015
AclonifenGood2015
AlachlorGood2015
BenzeneGood2015
BifenoxGood2015
CybutryneGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
DichloromethaneGood2015
Dichlorvos (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
TerbutrynGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015
DDT TotalGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
River AxeUK0030248Special Area of ConservationNatural 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
9422 94222014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2012, 20092014, 2015, 2016, 20192019
9332 93322009
9406 94062010, 2011, 2009
FORTON BROOK PRIOR TO R. AXE 702314102009, 2013, 2014, 20122019, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20152019
9428 94282013, 2011, 2014, 2012
RIVER AXE AT AXE BRIDGE 702201042009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102013, 2016, 2014, 2015, 20192019
RIVER AXE AT SLYMLAKES 702201642009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2010, 20112019, 2016, 2013, 2014, 20152019
RIVER AXE U/S COLYTON STW 702201192009, 2013, 2014, 2011, 2012, 2010
BRUCKLAND STREAM U/S MUSBURY HOUSE 702215202009, 2013, 2014, 2012
RIVER AXE AT WHITFORD BRIDGE 702201592009, 2013, 2010, 2012, 2011, 20142015, 2016
AXE/TIDAL AXE/BRUCKLAND STREAM/U/S A358 ROAD BRIDGE (WFDS)/ 368262013, 2014, 20122015, 2016
7633 76332014, 2011, 2013, 2012, 2010, 20092014, 2015, 2019, 2013, 20162019
RIVER AXE AT BOW BRIDGE 702301032009, 2013, 2014, 20122019, 2013, 2016, 2014, 20152019
RIVER AXE D/S WHITFORD ABSTRACTION 702201402009, 2013, 2014, 2012
RIVER AXE AT BROOM 702301222009, 2012, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2010

Downstream water bodies