Irwell (Source to Whitewell Brook) Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112069064660
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSD8333221840
  • Catchment area2698.93 ha
  • Length10.985 km
  • Catchment area26.989 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishGood
InvertebratesModerate
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood
Phytobenthos Sub ElementGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenHigh
PhosphateGood
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
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 CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
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

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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourceUrbanisation - urban developmentUrban and transportPhosphateDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhosphateDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Urban and transportMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Water IndustryMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationBarriers - ecological discontinuityIndustryFishDetails

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 transport1000000
Water Industry1000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total2000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
Biological quality elementsModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
FishModerate2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
WatergroveSWSGZ3016Safeguard Zone
River Irwell (Source to Whitewell Brook)UKGB112069064660Drinking Water Protected Area
Clay LaneSWSGZ3004Safeguard Zone
CowpeSWSGZ3006Safeguard Zone
Ashworth MoorSWSGZ3001Safeguard Zone

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
MERSEY/IRWELL/IWIR01/ 63582014, 2012, 2010, 20092016, 2014, 2015
MERSEY/IRWELL/IWIR03/ 63612010, 2009
67806 678062011, 2014, 20102016, 2014, 2015
IRWELL ABOVE COWPE BROOK 880020722013, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2009, 20122013, 2016, 2014, 2015
COWPE BROOK ABOVE CONF WITH IRWELL 8800207620092016, 2019, 20152019
160834 16083420142014, 2016, 2015
MERSEY/IRWELL/IWIR04/ 380482013, 2014, 20122013, 2016, 2014, 2015
RIVER IRWELL AT HENRIETTA STREET BACUP 880020712009, 2010, 20112016, 2015
MERSEY/IRWELL/COWPE BROOK/IWCO05/ 380472013, 2014, 20122013, 2016, 2014, 2019, 20152019

Upstream water bodies