For the Water Framework Directive (WFD) water bodies are given classifications based on data collected at monitoring sites. There may be one or more sites per water body. Classification is an important part of the WFD life cycle, it allows the current environmental conditions to be defined. Subsequent classifications indicate if any work carried out is having a positive effect.
Data are collected by field operatives or automated collection methods. These data are passed through models that calculate the classification for a site. These results then form the basis of a water body classification.
Included are much of the supporting data produced by the models, called classification facts.
This data set is extracted from the Environment Agency's Catchment Planning System. Data are available for each year and WFD planning cycle.
Further information is available in a readme file included with the data. Attribution statement: Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved.