Research and analysis

Nutrient conditions for different levels of ecological status and biological quality in surface waters

This report summarises the results of the first phase of a project to identify nutrient conditions for different levels of ecological status in UK surface waters.

Documents

Nutrient Conditions for Different Levels of Ecological Status and Biological Quality in Surface Waters

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Details

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the establishment of relationships between the concentrations of physico-chemical quality elements, such as nutrient conditions, and biological quality. As a component of this, Member States are required to establish reference nutrient conditions for different water body types and to link nutrients with indicators of biological quality.

This report summarises the results of the first phase of a project to identify nutrient conditions for different levels of ecological status in UK surface waters. The main objective of phase I was to identify areas where additional research is required before nutrient conditions and biological quality indicators can be linked with an acceptable degree of reliability.

Published 24 June 2005