Exe (Barle to Culm) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB108045015050
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSS9181603370
  • Catchment area103.162 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Length48.036 km
  • Catchment area10316.179 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementGood
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Acid Neutralising CapacityHigh
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateGood
TemperatureGood
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
MorphologySupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
ChlorothalonilHigh
Chromium (VI)High
CopperHigh
DiazinonHigh
IronHigh
ManganeseHigh
PendimethalinHigh
ZincHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
AnthraceneGood
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
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
PentachlorobenzeneGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
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
DiuronGood
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
OctylphenolGood
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
RNAGDiffuse sourceOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceSeptic TanksDomestic General PublicMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
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
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor pesticide managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails

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
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0100020

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Acid Neutralising CapacityGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2015
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
ChlorothalonilHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
DiazinonHigh2015
IronHigh2015
ManganeseHigh2015
PendimethalinHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
AnthraceneGood2015
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
HexachlorocyclohexaneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
PentachlorobenzeneGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
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
DiuronGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
OctylphenolGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & IsodrinGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015
DDT TotalGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Mid DevonG18Nitrates Directive
River ExeSWSGZ5012Safeguard Zone
EXE - GB108045015050UKGB108045015050Drinking Water Protected Area

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
RIVER EXE AT PYNES INTAKE POINT 705401852012, 2009, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2019, 2013, 20142019
RIVER EXE AT EXEBRIDGE 705503292012, 2009, 2010, 2013, 20112013, 2014
9540 95402012, 2011, 2014, 2010, 2013, 20092016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019
9538 95382011
RIVER EXE U/S TIVERTON STW 705501332012, 2009, 2010, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2019, 2013, 20142019
9533 95332012, 2010, 2013, 2011, 2009, 20142019, 2016, 2013, 2015, 20142019
RIVER EXE AT THORVERTON GAUGING STATION 705402242010, 2012, 2013, 2011, 2014, 20092015, 2014, 2016, 2019, 20132019
RIVER EXE AT HALFPENNY BRIDGE 705502652012, 2009, 2013, 20142016, 2015
9553 95532012, 2011, 2014, 2013, 2010, 20092016, 2019, 2014, 2015, 20132019
RIVER EXE AT BICKLEIGH CASTLE 705402752012, 2009, 2013, 2014
RIVER EXE AT ASHLEY 705501102012, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2011, 2010
RIVER EXE AT TIVERTON NEW BRIDGE 705501722012, 2009, 2013, 2014
IRON MILL STREAM PRIOR TO RIVER EXE 705570032012, 2009, 2010, 2011

Downstream water bodies