Essex Rivers Hub

Phosphate levels are high in this water body resulting in a classified of bad for phosphate. There are many causes but point source causes are sewage discharges from sewage treatment works, businesses and private houses.

Dissolved oxygen levels fluctuate and although there is no WFD failure for this, levels do drop in late summer and early autumn. One of the reasons for this is like the increased plant growth, which is exasperated by the increased nutrient levels in the water from phosphate.

Investigations to confirm failure and the cause of these failures – likely source.

Re-assess location of existing sampling point and add an additional sample point upstream to compare results and ensure dissolved O2 results are correct.

By choosing sampling points that are representative of the majority of the waterbody.