2022 WFD status for flow and phosphorus

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I’ve been updating my WFD table for flow and phosphorus.

This table shows

every chalk stream waterbody (that I know of) in the WFD assessment

the existing abstraction sensitivity band – these should almost all be ASB3 (by default if there are wild salmonids present, esp. migratory) and the banding is under review

the status for flow

the status for phosphorus

the presence of sewage works and whether or not they strip phosphorus

You can see just by scrolling through the table and watching the colours change (it starts in Dorset and ends in Yorkshire and London is kind of in the middle) the intensification of pressure around London and into Kent and Cambridgeshire. The pressure is much higher where there are more people. That’s a kind of “no shit Sherlock” observation, but it does also show – vividly – how the environment subsidises our water bills, in terms of supply and treatment.

97 out of 240 chalk stream waterbodies (40%) do not support good status for flow. But that % ranges from 16% in the Test and Itchen catchments to 80% in the Colne and Lea catchments.

88 out of 240 chalk stream waterbodies (36%) are at moderate, poor or bad status for phosphorus. But that % ranges from 0% in the Test and Itchen catchments to 61% in the Colne and Lea catchments and 51 % across the Ouse catchment chalk streams.

It kind of paints a picture, doesn’t it?

The table is HERE

Chalk Stream ASBs : FLOW : P WFD V7 2022 CYCLE copyDownload

8 thoughts on “2022 WFD status for flow and phosphorus”

  1. Hi Charles and thanks for this very timely update. We have an event in Faversham this evening about water quality and I’m keen to bring up quantity and flow in that context.

    Unfortunately however the link in your message doesn’t seem to be working. Can you investigate and then re-post?

    Tks and all the best,

    Matthew.

    >

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  3. Hi Charles,

    Hope all is well. As previously reported the link does not work for me either. Very much looking forward to seeing the table and as ever thanks for all your hard work.

    Best Regards

    Ian Hall

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    1. Hi Ian, are you tapping the HERE link? The flow status is still inaccurately “good” for the Ivel, unfortunately. V best, Charles

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    2. Hi Charles, yes, but we just get a Dropbox error(400) message. Regarding the flow, I never expected otherwise but it would be interesting to compare with others locally.

      All the best.

      Ian

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