B7. Surface water status
Type: State Indicator
This indicator was not updated in 2022. It was last updated in 2021.
Introduction
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an important mechanism for assessing and managing the water environment in the European Union (EU), through a six-yearly cycle of planning and implementing measures to protect and improve the water environment. Since the UK left the EU, the EU Water Framework Directive has been revoked and replaced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the following laws: the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, and the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017. In Scotland the WFD has been transposed into the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. The UK continues to fulfil its reporting requirements under the new legislation. For ease of reference this legislation will be referred to as the WFD throughout this document.
This indicator shows the percentage of surface water bodies in each status classification and assesses the change in the percentage of water bodies in the UK awarded a good or high surface water status classification under the WFD. Around 10,000 water body assessments are included in the indicator each year; including rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.
Contents
- Key results
- Indicator description
- Relevance
-
Background
- Figure B7ii. Surface water status classification of UK surface water bodies, by water body type, under the Water Framework Directive, 2009 to 2020.
- Table B7i. Percentage of surface water bodies awarded each status classification in 2020; by country and water body type
- Table B7ii. Water Framework Directive standards reported by UK countries during the transition from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2
- Goals and Targets
- Web links for further information
- Downloads
Key results
There has been little change in the overall number of surface water bodies in the UK awarded high or good ecological status since the indicator was first prepared in 2009, and similarly, there has been little change in the short term, between 2015 and 2020 (Figure B7i).
In 2020, 36% of surface water bodies were assessed under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as being in high or good status, the same as in 2009 and one percentage point higher than the figure of 35% reported in 2015.
Figure B7i. Status classification of UK surface water bodies under the Water Framework Directive, 2009 to 2020.
Notes:
- Based on numbers of surface water bodies classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Includes rivers, canals (Northern Ireland does not report on canals), lakes, estuaries and coastal water bodies.
- A water body is a management unit, as defined by the relevant authorities.
- Water bodies that are heavily modified or artificial (HMAWBs) are included in this indicator alongside natural water bodies. HMAWBs are classified as good, moderate, poor or bad ‘ecological potential’. Results have been combined; for example, the number of water bodies with a high-status classification has been added to the number of HMAWBs with high ecological potential.
- The results published each year relate to data reported in that year under the WFD; data reported in a given year relate to data collected over the previous year (for Scotland) and previous three-year period (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland). From 2016, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have moved to a triennial reporting system. Wales and Northern Ireland reported in 2018 and whilst due to report in 2021, the data was not available in time for inclusion in this publication; England reported in 2016 (classifications carried forward for 2017 and 2018) and 2019. The most recent classification for England was in 2019 and therefore these classifications have been carried forward to 2020. Classifications are valid until they are next assessed; therefore, for years where a country does not report, their latest available data are carried forward.
- The percentage of water bodies in each status classification has been calculated based on the total number of water bodies assessed in each year.
- The number of water body assessments included varies slightly from year to year: 10,835 water body assessments were included in 2009; 10,763 were included in 2010; 10,783 in 2011; 10,705 in 2012; 10,764 in 2013; 10,799 in 2014; 10,379 in 2015; 9,297 in 2016; 9,298 in 2017; 9,300 in 2018; 9,300 in 2019; and 9,300 in 2020.
- The reductions in the number of assessments made in 2015 were due to England, Wales and Northern Ireland adopting the monitoring and classification standards laid down in Cycle 2 of the WFD. This means that data from 2014 onwards (when Scotland adopted the Cycle 2 monitoring and classification standards) are not directly comparable to those in earlier years.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland; Environment Agency; Natural Resources Wales; Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Assessment of change in status of UK surface water bodies
| Long term | Short term | Latest year | |
| Percentage of UK surface water bodies in 'High' or 'Good' ecological status |
|
|
No change (2020) |
Note: Long- and short-term assessments are based on a 3% rule of thumb. Where possible, the base years for these assessments use a three-year average. See Assessing Indicators.
Indicator description
The WFD specifies the quality elements that can be used to assess the surface water status of a water body. Quality elements can be biological (e.g. fish, invertebrates and plants), chemical (e.g. heavy metals, pesticides and nutrients) or indicators of the condition of the habitats and water flows and levels (e.g. presence of barriers to fish migration and modelled lake level data). Classifications indicate where the quality of the environment is good, where it may need improvement and what may need to be improved. They can also be used, over the years, to plan improvements, show trends and monitor progress.
The ecological status of UK surface water bodies is a measure that looks at both the biological and habitat condition status of a water body. Some small differences exist in the way the administrations and environment agencies implement the methods and tools for assessing water body status.
Relevance
Surface waters with good status support a diverse assemblage of aquatic invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds. The WFD aims to improve and integrate the way water bodies are managed throughout the UK. The UK aims to reach good chemical and ecological status in inland and coastal waters by 2027 at the latest. The UK is striving to improve and protect the condition of the water environment, and objectives to improve and protect each water body have been set, as well as measures defined to ensure the objectives are met.
Background
The WFD came into force in December 2000 and became part of English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish law in December 2003. Since leaving the EU, the EU Water Framework Directive has been revoked and replaced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by: the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, and the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017. In Scotland the WFD has been transposed into the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. These regulations require all four UK countries to plan and deliver a better water environment. There are a number of water quality objectives in the WFD for all UK countries, and key aspects are:
- aquatic ecology;
- specific unique and valuable habitats;
- drinking water resources; and
- bathing water.
In 2020, 3,317 surface water bodies (36%) in the UK were in high or good status (Figure B7i). A breakdown of the headline measure by water body type is presented in Figure B7ii and Table B7i. In 2020, 32% of rivers and canals, 32% of lakes and 76% of estuaries and coastal water bodies in the UK were in high or good status. Table B7i also shows a further level of disaggregation, splitting the data by country.
Figure B7ii. Surface water status classification of UK surface water bodies, by water body type, under the Water Framework Directive, 2009 to 2020.
Notes:
- Based on numbers of surface water bodies classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Includes rivers, canals (Northern Ireland does not report on canals), lakes, estuaries and coastal water bodies.
- A water body is a management unit, as defined by the relevant authorities.
- Water bodies that are heavily modified or artificial (HMAWBs) are included in this indicator alongside natural water bodies. HMAWBs are classified as high, good, moderate, poor or bad ‘ecological potential’. Results have been combined; for example, the number of water bodies with a high-status classification has been added to the number of HMAWBs with high ecological potential.
- The results published each year relate to data reported in that year under the WFD; data reported in a given year relate to data collected over the previous year (for Scotland) and previous three-year period (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
- The percentage of water bodies in each status classification has been calculated based on the total number of that type of water body assessed in each year.
- The total number of water bodies assessed varies slightly from year to year.
- The 2013, 2014 and 2015 data are not entirely like-for-like due to the time differences in phasing in the reporting to Cycle 2 standards. It also means that data from 2014 onwards are not directly comparable to those in earlier years.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland; Environment Agency; Natural Resource Wales; Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Table B7i. Percentage of surface water bodies awarded each status classification in 2020; by country and water body type
| Country | Status classification | Type of water body | Total | ||
| Rivers and canals | Estuaries and coastal | Lakes | |||
| England | High | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Good | 16% | 29% | 14% | 16% | |
| Moderate | 62% | 65% | 74% | 64% | |
| Poor | 19% | 3% | 11% | 17% | |
| Bad | 3% | 3% | 1% | 3% | |
| Total number of water bodies | 3,900 | 166 | 589 | 4,655 | |
| Scotland | High | 8% | 30% | 31% | 14% |
| Good | 47% | 68% | 38% | 49% | |
| Moderate | 28% | 1% | 20% | 23% | |
| Poor | 15% | 0% | 10% | 12% | |
| Bad | 3% | 0% | 1% | 2% | |
| Total number of water bodies | 2,410 | 505 | 334 | 3,249 | |
| Wales | High | 0% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| Good | 44% | 22% | 19% | 40% | |
| Moderate | 47% | 75% | 67% | 51% | |
| Poor | 8% | 2% | 13% | 9% | |
| Bad | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| Total number of water bodies | 724 | 55 | 124 | 903 | |
| Northern Ireland | High | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Good | 31% | 40% | 24% | 31% | |
| Moderate | 57% | 56% | 29% | 56% | |
| Poor | 9% | 4% | 33% | 10% | |
| Bad | 2% | 0% | 14% | 2% | |
| Total number of water bodies | 447 | 25 | 21 | 493 | |
| UK | Total number of water bodies | 7,481 | 751 | 1,068 | 9,300 |
Notes:
- Data for England have been carried forward from 2019. Data for Scotland are for 2019. Data for Wales and Northern Ireland have been carried forward from 2018.
- This table was presented as the number of surface water bodies rather than the percentage of surface water bodies up to and including the 2018 publication.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland; Environment Agency; Natural Resource Wales; Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
In the UK, WFD status classification is based on information obtained from monitoring of water quality and biological elements in both long-term surveillance networks and more risk-based operational networks.
The programme of monitoring that takes place in a given period is informed by the results of the previous cycle of monitoring and risk assessments. Where it is known with high certainty that a water body is in a good or less-than-good status, monitoring effort can be refocused to areas at higher risk. This helps to target resources where they are needed most.
Surveillance water bodies are monitored more comprehensively. One objective of surveillance monitoring is to look for signs of impact from pressures in order to validate risk assessments and provide a consistent, long-term monitoring network of sites. At water bodies chosen for the surveillance network, data collectors aim to monitor all quality elements over a river basin management plan cycle.
If there are no sampling data for a particular classification period, results from previous classifications may be rolled-over into the classification assessment. For example, river phosphorus results are calculated from data from the previous three years. If there are no data in that sampling period, the last classification assessment is rolled forward.
The introduction of new WFD monitoring data and classification standards in 2014 (including a new baseline adopting all of the new standards, tools, designations and water body boundaries) has led to a step change in the number of water bodies assessed as being in each status classification in following years. It also led to a reduction in the total number of water bodies being assessed because under the new WFD guidance, water bodies below the 10 km2 catchment area no longer need to be included. The formal reporting of new standards in Cycle 2 of the WFD uses the second cycle plans published in 2015. In Scotland, refined methods and environmental standards have been used to assess water body condition since 2013. Small numbers of changes to surface water body boundaries occurred throughout the period, and in 2013 groundwater body boundaries were refined to reflect improved understanding.
Table B7ii below gives a breakdown of the standards reported by each UK country in the transition to the formal adoption of Cycle 2 in 2015. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 data presented in Figures B7i and B7ii are not entirely like-for-like due to differences in phasing in reporting to the Cycle 2 standards by the four countries.
Table B7ii. Water Framework Directive standards reported by UK countries during the transition from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2
| Country | Reporting year | ||
| Up to and including 2013 | 2014 | From 2015 onwards | |
| England | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 |
| Wales | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 |
| Scotland | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 2 |
| Northern Ireland | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 |
Note:
Information on the objectives to improve and protect each water body, as well as measures defined to ensure the objective are met, can be found for each of the four UK countries on their respective website (see links below).
Goals and Targets
Aichi Targets for which this is a primary indicator
Strategic Goal B. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.
Target 8: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity.
Aichi Targets for which this is a relevant indicator
Strategic Goal B. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.
Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
Target 10: By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.
Strategic Goal D. Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystems.
Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.
Web links for further information
| Reference | Title |
| GOV.UK | Improving water quality |
| EIONET: European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters | Ecological and chemical status and pressures in European waters |
| European Commission | Water Framework Directive |
| European Environment Agency | Waterbase – WISE |
| Environment Agency | River Basin Management Plans |
| Natural Resources Wales | The Water Framework Directive |
| Northern Ireland Environment Agency | River Basin Plan |
| Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs | River Basin Management Planning |
| Scottish Environment Protection Agency | Monitoring and classification |
| Scottish Environment Protection Agency | Water Bodies Data Sheets |
Downloads
Download the Datasheet from JNCC's Resource Hub.
Last updated: October 2021
Latest data available:
England – 2019
Scotland – 2019
Wales – 2017
Northern Ireland – 2017
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