Water Cycle Study - East Devon District Council

Ref EWCS April 2010
Exeter and East Devon Water Cycle Study
5.5.5 The majority of surface water bodies in the catchment are currently classified as either good or
moderate ecological status. Figure 5.4 shows the proportion of assessed river water bodies in each
status class, by element. The main contributors to less than good status are identified as being
phosphate, diatoms and fish.
Figure 5.4 – Proportion of assessed river water bodies in each status class, by element
(numbers above bars indicate total number of water bodies assessed for each element)
Surface Water Bodies - Ecological status
5.5.6 It can be seen from the RBMP classification table (Table 5.1) that the majority of the East Devon
catchment within and surrounding the study area is not currently compliant with good ecological
status. By 2015, 35 per cent of surface waters in this catchment will improve for at least one
element of good status and seventeen river water bodies will improve to good ecological status.
The main reasons for less than good status are; impacted fish communities, high levels of
phosphate, impacted diatom communities and physical modification.
Surface Water Bodies – Chemical Status
5.5.7 Seven waterbodies have been assessed in the East Devon catchment for Chemical Status. All of
these meet good chemical status.
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