B7. Surface water status
Type: State Indicator
This indicator was updated in 2023.
Introduction
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) underpins an important mechanism for assessing and managing the water environment, through a six-yearly cycle of river basin management planning and implementing measures to protect and improve the water environment. The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) 2017 Regulations transposed WFD into law in England and Wales. Similar regulations transposed WFD in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively. These regulations were retained in UK law after EU exit via the EU Withdrawal Act 2018. The UK continues to classify and report water body status 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 that achieved 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 2022
- 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 and to Cycle 3
- 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 that achieved 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 2017 and 2022 (Figure B7i).
In 2022, 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 2017.
Figure B7i. Status classification of UK surface water bodies under the Water Framework Directive, 2009 to 2022
Notes about Figure B7i:
- 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). This indicator was not updated in 2022. To calculate totals for the 2022 data point, the most recent classification data available at the time of publication was 2020 (cycle 2) for Northern Ireland and Scotland (cycle 3): 2021 (cycle 3) for Wales and 2019 (cycle 2) for England. 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 years 2018 to 2021; and 9,291 in 2022.
- 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.
- The reductions in the number of assessments made in 2022 was due to Wales adopting Cycle 3 reporting of the WFD.
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 |
Little or no overall change 2009–2022 |
Little or no overall change 2017–2022 |
Little or no change (2022) |
Notes for Assessment of Change table:
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). Under WFD the one-out-all-out approach means that if just one quality element fails good status, the overall water body classification will be less than good. 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. It requires the protection and improvement of the water environment, through river basin management plans. These plans set environmental objectives for water bodies and set out programmes of measures to achieve those objectives. 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 and water chemistry;
- the impact of physical modification of water bodies;
- specific unique and valuable habitats (protected sites);
- drinking water resources; and
- bathing waters and coastal waters use for shellfish aquaculture.
In 2022, 3,340 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 2022, 33% of rivers and canals, 32% of lakes and 75% 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 2022
Notes about Figure B7ii:
- 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). This indicator was not updated in 2022. To calculate totals for the 2022 data point, the most recent classification data available at the time of publication was 2020 (cycle 2) for Northern Ireland and Scotland (cycle 3): 2021 (cycle 3) for Wales and 2019 (cycle 2) for England. 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 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.
- Wales adopted Cycle 3 reporting of the WFD for 2021 data.
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 |
48% |
68% |
39% |
50% |
|
|
Moderate |
27% |
1% |
20% |
22% |
|
|
Poor |
14% |
0% |
10% |
12% |
|
|
Bad |
3% |
0% |
0% |
2% |
|
|
Total number of water bodies |
2,410 |
505 |
334 |
3,249 |
|
|
Wales |
High |
0% |
2% |
1% |
0% |
|
Good |
44% |
20% |
18% |
39% |
|
|
Moderate |
47% |
75% |
65% |
51% |
|
|
Poor |
8% |
4% |
15% |
9% |
|
|
Bad |
1% |
0% |
2% |
1% |
|
|
Total number of water bodies |
726 |
55 |
114 |
895 |
|
|
Northern Ireland |
High |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Good |
31% |
40% |
14% |
31% |
|
|
Moderate |
57% |
56% |
38% |
56% |
|
|
Poor |
11% |
4% |
29% |
11% |
|
|
Bad |
1% |
0% |
19% |
1% |
|
|
Total number of water bodies |
446 |
25 |
21 |
492 |
|
|
UK |
Total number of water bodies |
7,482 |
751 |
1,058 |
9,291 |
Notes about Table B7i:
- This indicator was not updated in 2022. To calculate totals for the 2022 data point, the most recent classification data available at the time of publication was 2020 (cycle 2) for Northern Ireland and Scotland (cycle 3): 2021 (cycle 3) for Wales and 2019 (cycle 2) for England. Classifications are valid until they are next assessed; therefore, for years where a country does not report, their latest available data are carried forward.
- 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 in the environment.
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 and Cycle 3 of the WFD uses the second and third cycle plans published in 2015 and 2023 respectively. 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 and Cycle 3 in 2023. 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 and Cycle 3 standards by the four countries.
Table B7ii. Water Framework Directive standards reported by UK countries during the transition from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2 and to Cycle 3
| Country | Reporting year | |||
| Up to and including 2013 | 2014 | From 2015 onwards | 2023 | |
| England | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 2 |
| Wales | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
| Scotland | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
| Northern Ireland | Cycle 1 | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 2 |
Notes about Table B7ii:
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
The UK and England Biodiversity Indicators are currently being assessed alongside the Environment Improvement Plan Targets, and the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets, when this work has been completed the references to Biodiversity 2020 and the Aichi Global Biodiversity Framework Targets will be updated.
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
- Improving water quality
- Ecological and chemical status and pressures in European waters
- Water Framework Directive
- Waterbase – WISE
- River Basin Management Plans
- The Water Framework Directive
- River Basin Management Plans 2015 - 2021
- River Basin Plan
- River Basin Management Planning
- Monitoring and classification
- Water Bodies Data Sheets
Downloads
Download the Datasheet from JNCC's Resource Hub.
Last updated: November 2023
Latest data available:
England – 2019
Scotland – 2020
Wales – 2021
Northern Ireland – 2020
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