Assessing the provision of the service
Water Quality
WFD Data from EA Geostore with classification data from EA website.
WFD classification
(www.geostore.com/environment‐agency) (www.data.gov.uk/dataset/wfd‐surface‐water‐ classification‐status‐and‐objectives)
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We need to collate and assess all of the data and evidence that indicates whether the catchment ecosystem is delivering a service. The principal set of evidence that we can use to assess the water quality in a catchment is the WFD classification of the waterbodies. The ecological status of a waterbody is primarily measured using a series of biological parameters and is recorded on the scale high, good, moderate, poor and bad (with moderate or worse being regarded as a failure). The different status classes used represent different degrees of disturbance to the various indicators of ecological health being measured.
WFD Reasons for Failure Database can be obtained from the EA. No. of RFF indicates diversity of pollution sources and scale of the challenge.
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WFD Reasons for Failure The Environment Agency’s WFD Reason for Failure database identifies the causes of a waterbody being determined to be at less than Good Status (activity, source, sector). The cause is recorded using a defined set of reasons for failure and pressures.