Solway Outer South Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB641211630003
  • Water Body TypeCoastal Water
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRNX9386028655
  • Surface area45585.04 ha
  • Surface area455.85 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
InvertebratesModerate
ImposexGood
Infaunal Quality IndexModerate
MacroalgaeGood
Rocky Shore MacroalgaeGood
PhytoplanktonGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGood
Dissolved oxygenHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
MorphologySupports good
Specific pollutantsHigh
Chromium (VI)High
MecopropHigh
ZincHigh
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood
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
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 responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (intermittent)Water IndustryInvertebratesDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementInvertebratesDetails

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 management0000010
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0000010

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
MacroalgaeGood2015
PhytoplanktonGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Dissolved Inorganic NitrogenGood2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsNot assessed2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Not assessed2015
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
Chromium (VI)High2015
MecopropHigh2015
ZincHigh2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Cadmium and Its CompoundsGood2015
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
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Solway FirthUK9005012Special Protection AreaNatural England
Silloth_EUKSW118Shellfish Water Directive
AllonbyUK46100Bathing Water Directive
Upper Solway Flats & MarshesUK11079Ramsar SiteNatural England
Solway FirthUK0013025Special Area of ConservationNatural England

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
UFEX&HUTBANK LANDFILL EQSD SAMPLE 50M DS 880230002016, 2015
COASTAL SURVEY 179 WHITEHAVEN : SLC 10 880071412010
COASTAL SURVEY 180 WORKINGTON:SITE SLC 5 880071372011, 2009, 2010, 2012
COASTAL SURVEY 180.1: MARYPORT: SLA 45 880071082011, 2009, 2010, 2012
WHITEHAVEN WWTW EQSD SAMPLE 50M DOWNTIDE 880229992015, 2016
IRISH SEA @ WORKINGTON BY NTH SIDE SEWER 880057752011
IRISH SEA AT PARTON,LILLYHALL OUTFALL 880107452011, 2010, 2012, 2009, 2013
IRISH SEA AT WORKINGTON WWTW 880107442010, 2012, 2009, 2013, 2011
SOLWAY FIRTH260M STH THAMES BOARD MILLS 880059222015, 2016

Downstream water bodies