THAMES LOWER Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get THAMES LOWER data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB530603911401
- Water Body TypeTransitional Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRTQ8534080133
- Surveillance Water BodyYes
- Surface area201.451 km2
- Surface area20145.124 ha
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate |
| Angiosperms | Moderate |
| Saltmarsh | Moderate |
| Seagrass | High |
| Fish | Good |
| Invertebrates | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Good |
| Macroalgae | High |
| Opportunistic Macroalgae | High |
| Phytoplankton | Good |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Moderate |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Moderate or less |
| Specific pollutants | High |
| 2,4-dichlorophenol | High |
| 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid | High |
| Arsenic | High |
| Chlorothalonil | High |
| Chromium (VI) | High |
| Copper | High |
| Diazinon | High |
| Dimethoate | High |
| Iron | High |
| Linuron | High |
| Mecoprop | High |
| Pendimethalin | High |
| Permethrin | High |
| Phenol | High |
| Toluene | High |
| Triclosan | High |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High |
| Zinc | High |
| Chemical | Fail |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail |
| Anthracene | Good |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Fail |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous) | Good |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good |
| Endosulfan | Good |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail |
| Nonylphenol | Good |
| Pentachlorobenzene | Good |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail |
| Quinoxyfen | Good |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Fail |
| Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good |
| Priority substances | Fail |
| 1,2-dichloroethane | Good |
| Aclonifen | Good |
| Alachlor | Good |
| Atrazine | Good |
| Benzene | Good |
| Bifenox | Good |
| Chlorfenvinphos | Good |
| Chlorpyrifos | Good |
| Cybutryne | Good |
| Cypermethrin (Priority) | Fail |
| Dichloromethane | Good |
| Dichlorvos (Priority) | Good |
| Diuron | Good |
| Fluoranthene | Good |
| Isoproturon | Good |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good |
| Napthalene | Good |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good |
| Octylphenol | Good |
| Pentachlorophenol | Good |
| Simazine | Good |
| Terbutryn | Good |
| Trichlorobenzenes | Good |
| Trichloromethane | Good |
| Other Pollutants | Good |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Good |
| DDT Total | Good |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Good |
| Trichloroethylene | Good |
| para - para DDT | Good |
Investigations into classification status
| Classification Element | Cycle | Year | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invertebrates | 2 | 2013 | Moderate | Uncertain there is a problem |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | 2 | 2016 | Moderate | Certain there is not 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 Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD | High to Good deterioration, no action required (RFD only) | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Phytoplankton | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Land drainage - structures | Local and Central Government | Angiosperms | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Cypermethrin (Priority) | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Landfill leaching | Waste treatment and disposal | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Contaminated land | Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Contaminated water body bed sediments | Urban and transport | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Unknown (pending investigation) | Unknown (pending investigation) | Sector under investigation | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Contaminated land | Industry | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Use of restricted substance | Navigation | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Physical modification | Other (not in list, must add details in comments) | Local and Central Government | Mitigation Measures Assessment | Details |
| RNAG | Diffuse source | Urbanisation - urban development | Urban and transport | Tributyltin Compounds | Details |
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 issue | Physical modifications | Pollution from waste water | Pollution from towns, cities and transport | Changes to the natural flow and level of water | Invasive non-native species | Pollution from rural areas | Pollution from abandoned mines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and rural land management | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Industry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Navigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Urban and transport | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Industry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic general public | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Recreation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waste treatment and disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No sector responsible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sector under investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits; Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Angiosperms | Moderate | 2015 | Good status prevented by A/HMWB designated use: Action to get biological element to good would have significant adverse impact on use |
| Fish | Good | 2015 | |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| Macroalgae | Good | 2015 | |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Not assessed | 2015 | |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
| 2,4-dichlorophenol | High | 2015 | |
| 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid | High | 2015 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Chlorothalonil | High | 2015 | |
| Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Diazinon | High | 2015 | |
| Dimethoate | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Linuron | High | 2015 | |
| Mecoprop | High | 2015 | |
| Pendimethalin | High | 2015 | |
| Permethrin | High | 2015 | |
| Phenol | High | 2015 | |
| Toluene | High | 2015 | |
| Triclosan | High | 2015 | |
| Un-ionised ammonia | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens; Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time; Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Anthracene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo (b) and (k) fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo (ghi) perelyene and indeno (123-cd) pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(b)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzo(g-h-i)perylene | Good | 2033 | Technically infeasible: No known technical solution is available |
| Benzo(k)fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (Priority hazardous) | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Endosulfan | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Nonylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Pentachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Quinoxyfen | Good | 2015 | |
| Tributyltin Compounds | Good | 2027 - Low confidence | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Trifluralin (Priority hazardous) | Good | 2015 | |
| Priority substances | Good | 2039 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| 1,2-dichloroethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Aclonifen | Good | 2015 | |
| Alachlor | Good | 2015 | |
| Atrazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Benzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Bifenox | Good | 2015 | |
| Chlorfenvinphos | Good | 2015 | |
| Chlorpyrifos | Good | 2015 | |
| Cybutryne | Good | 2015 | |
| Cypermethrin (Priority) | Good | 2039 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Dichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Dichlorvos (Priority) | Good | 2015 | |
| Diuron | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Isoproturon | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Napthalene | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Octylphenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Pentachlorophenol | Good | 2015 | |
| Simazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Terbutryn | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichlorobenzenes | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloromethane | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Good | 2015 | |
| DDT Total | Good | 2015 | |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Good | 2015 | |
| Trichloroethylene | Good | 2015 | |
| para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Thames Estuary | UK9020309 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Thames Estuary & Marshes | UK9012021 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Thames Estuary & Marshes | UK11069 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Southend Chalkwell | UK11902 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Essex Estuaries | UK0013690 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Sheppey | UKSW27 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Outer Thames | UKSW24 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Southend Thorpe Bay | UK11800 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Foulness | UKSW22 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Southend | UKSW23 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Benfleet And Southend Marshes | UK11006 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) | UK9009246 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) | UK11026 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Benfleet And Southend Marshes | UK9009171 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Leigh Bell Wharf | UK11904 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Southend Jubilee | UK11830 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Shoebury East | UK11770 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Southend Westcliff Bay | UK11900 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Minster Leas | UK11975 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Shoeburyness | UK11780 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Southend Three Shells | UK11850 | Bathing Water 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.