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ANNEX D: SUMMARY OF CLASSIFICATION PROCESS FOR SURFACE WATER BODIES OTHER THAN THOSE DESIGNATED AS HEAVILY MODIFIED OR ARTIFICIAL
SEPA must classify the ecological status of surface water bodies in accordance with the following steps:
1. Applying the spatial criteria, determine the values for the appropriate indicators of the condition of the relevant biological, chemical, physicochemical, hydrological and morphological quality elements from monitoring or modelling results. The appropriate indicators shall include:
(i) indicators of the biological 5 quality element or elements expected to be most sensitive to any pressures likely to be significant enough to cause a failure of a standard applicable to such elements;
(ii) indicators of the hydrological and morphological quality elements expected to be most sensitive to any pressures likely to be significant enough to cause a failure of a standard or condition limit applicable to such elements;
(iii) the concentrations of any pollutants likely to be in the water body in quantities that could cause a failure of a chemical standard applicable to such pollutants; and
(iv) the values for any physicochemical quality elements likely to be so altered by human activity as to be failing a physicochemical standard applicable to such elements.
2. Classify the condition of the biological; chemical, physicochemical; hydrological and morphological quality elements by comparing the values of the indicators determined from monitoring or modelling with the applicable standards and condition limits that Ministers have directed SEPA to use.
3. Classify the ecological status of the water body as 'high' if there is no evidence that a listed high impact alien species has become established in the water body (see section 4.3.3) and:
i. none of the pressures, if any, to which the water body is subject are determined to be significant enough to cause a failure of an applicable standard or condition limit; or
ii. the conditions determined for the biological, chemical, physicochemical, hydrological and morphological quality elements comply with the highest corresponding standards and condition limits that Ministers have directed SEPA to use.
4. Where a water body is not classified as high ecological status and subject to Step 5 below, classify the ecological status of the water body according to the lowest classed biological, chemical or physicochemical quality element. If the lowest classed quality element is a chemical or physicochemical quality element, the class assigned to the water body shall be no lower than moderate ecological status.
5. Where a water body is not classified as high ecological status and SEPA considers that the biological results are unlikely to be representative of the effects on the condition of biological quality elements of modifications to the body's physical characteristics 6, it shall classify the ecological status of the water body according to the lowest classed biological, chemical, physicochemical; hydrological or morphological quality element. If the lowest classed quality element is a chemical or physicochemical quality element, the class assigned shall be no lower than moderate ecological status.
SEPA must classify the chemical status of surface water bodies in accordance with the following steps:
1. Estimate (from monitoring or modelling) the concentrations in the water body of appropriate priority substances and other dangerous substances identified at EU-level. The appropriate substances shall include, as a minimum, those substances likely to be in the water body in quantities that could cause a failure of the corresponding environmental quality standard.
2. Classify the condition of each appropriate substance by comparing the values estimated from monitoring or modelling with the applicable standards that Ministers have directed SEPA to use.
3. Classify the chemical status of the surface water body as good unless the concentrations estimated for one or more priority or other dangerous substances is failing an applicable standard. If one or more standards are being failed, classify the body as "failing to achieve good chemical status".
SEPA must classify the surface water status of surface water bodies in accordance with the following steps:
1. Classify the surface water status as 'high' if the chemical status of the water body is good and the ecological status is high.
2. Classify the surface water status as 'good' if the chemical status and the ecological status are both good.
3. Classify the surface water status as moderate if:
(i) the chemical status is classed as failing to achieve good and the ecological status is determined to be no lower than moderate; or
(ii) the ecological status is moderate.
4. If the ecological status is lower than moderate, classify the surface water status correspondingly as 'poor' or 'bad', as applicable.
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