Virginia Water Water Body

Poor ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB30642691
  • Water Body TypeLake
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSU9681369140
  • Mean depth2.835 m
  • Surface area0.525 km2
  • Altitude35 m
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Surface area52.509 ha
  • Catchment area4078.75 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalPoor
Biological quality elementsPoor
Chironomids (CPET)High
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedPoor
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoor
Phytobenthos Sub ElementGood
PhytoplanktonGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
SalinityHigh
Total NitrogenModerate
Total PhosphorusGood
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeHigh
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Expert JudgementModerate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
CopperHigh
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
Priority substancesGood
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
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 (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)RecreationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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 Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation1000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total1100000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Chironomids (CPET)Good2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhytoplanktonGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Technically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
SalinityGood2015
Total NitrogenGood2027 - Low confidenceTechnically infeasible: Cause of adverse impact unknown
Total PhosphorusGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Expert JudgementGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
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
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Lower Thames (Cookham Egham Teddington)SWSGZ4016Safeguard 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
VIRGINIA WATER OUTLET, ABOVE A30 ROADBRI PGWL00942012, 2009, 2013, 20142019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 20132019
154756 1547562014, 2012, 20132016, 2015, 2014, 2019, 20132019
144450 1444502009, 2014, 2012, 20132019, 2014, 2013, 2016, 20152019

Upstream water bodies

    Downstream water bodies