TAW / TORRIDGE Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB540805015500
  • Water Body TypeTransitional Water
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSS5082433617
  • Surface area1443.644 ha
  • Surface area14.436 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsGood
AngiospermsGood
SaltmarshGood
FishGood
InvertebratesGood
Infaunal Quality IndexGood
MacroalgaeHigh
Fucoid ExtentHigh
PhytoplanktonGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerate
Dissolved oxygenHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
Specific pollutantsHigh
ArsenicHigh
Chromium (VI)High
CopperHigh
IronHigh
Un-ionised ammoniaHigh
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
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Tributyltin CompoundsGood
Priority substancesGood
FluorantheneGood
Lead and Its CompoundsGood
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood
OctylphenolGood
TrichloromethaneGood
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
RNAGDiffuse sourceSeptic TanksDomestic General PublicDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementDissolved Inorganic NitrogenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGUnknown (pending investigation)Unknown (pending investigation)Sector under investigationBenzo(g-h-i)peryleneDetails
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 management0000030
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government1000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total1000030

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens;
Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Biological quality elementsGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
AngiospermsGood2015
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
MacroalgaeGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2021Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenModerate2015Disproportionately expensive: Unfavourable balance of costs and benefits
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
ArsenicHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
CopperHigh2015
IronHigh2015
Un-ionised ammoniaHigh2015
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(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 epoxideGood2021Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
NonylphenolGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Tributyltin CompoundsGood2015
Priority substancesGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Lead and Its CompoundsGood2015
Nickel and Its CompoundsGood2015
OctylphenolGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Taw EstuaryET6Nitrates Directive
Braunton BurrowsUK0012570Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Taw EstuaryUKSW80Shellfish Water Directive
Taw EstuaryUKENCA52Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Taw-Torridge EstuaryUKSW79Shellfish Water Directive
Torridge EstuaryUKSW81Shellfish 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.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
TAW-TORRIDGE ESTUARY MOUTH SHELLFISH W 730101472010, 2013, 2011, 20122016, 2015
RIVER TORRIDGE BY NAPP HOUSE NORTHAM 729102612010, 2013, 2011, 20122016, 2015
TAW SHELLFISH WATER 730102602013, 2011, 20122016, 2015
RIVER TORRIDGE AT LITTLE AMERICA SURFACE 729104402016, 2015
RIVER TAW OFF ASHFORD STW 7301038820132016, 2015
RIVER TAW 100M D/S ASHFORD SURF BOIL 730103692012, 2011, 2010, 20132015, 2016
RIVER TAW 250M D/S ASHFORD SURF BOIL 730103612012, 2011, 2010, 2013
PULLEY RIDGE SHELLFISH 729100042015, 2016

Downstream water bodies