Fresh Water Quality
Under the terms of the Water Pollution Act, 1993, the Government Laboratory monitors and reports on the quality of inland watercourses on the Isle of Man.
The Laboratory has produced a Riverwater Quality Baseline Survey, with the objective to classify the Island's rivers according to their chemical and biological quality, allowing assessment of the suitability of the rivers for various uses based on their chemical and biological quality.
Water quality is determined through analysis of freshwater macroinvertebrate communities (insect larvae, shrimps, snails, leeches, worms etc.). Water quality grading enables a 'use-classification' to be drawn up and the setting of Water Quality Objectives, designed to ensure that all water courses are brought up to a minimum water quality standard.
Baseline Survey
The Government Laboratory has adopted the UK Environment Agency's method for chemically classifying the Island's rivers, termed the (Chemical) General Quality Assessment Scheme (GQA). In the UK the Chemical GQA is complemented by a Biological GQA, but due to limited species diversity on the Island a specific Isle of Man Biological Classification Scheme has been formulated based on a scheme from Northern Ireland.
The Baseline Survey of 1995 to 1998 found that of 97km of river monitored for the Chemical GQA, 93% (90km) were classed as 'Good' or 'Very Good'. The main water quality problems were related to nutrient enrichment.
Of 86km of river monitored for the Biological GQA 79% (69km) was classed as 'Fairly Good' or better. Twenty-one percent (18km) was "Fair" or "Poor" biologically. The main cause of depressed chemical quality was sewage effluent discharged from sewage treatment works. In addition to sewage effluent, the biological quality was also affected by channel modification (including drainage works), mine drainage, and acidification.
River Quality Objectives
Under Section 2 (1) of The Water Pollution Act 1993 the Environment Department (Department of Local Government and the Environment) may prescribe a system of classifying rivers and use this system to establish River Quality Objectives. Section 2 (4) of the same act requires a publication of the proposals and offers an invitation for comment.
The Department of Local Government and the Environment has been monitoring rivers since 1995 and collected sufficient information to set the objectives. Presentations were given to interested parties and a consultation document was distributed which summarises the proposals and invited comments. The consultation was extended to as wide an audience as possible hence inclusion on the Government Laboratory web site.
Download a copy of the River Quality Objectives Consultation Document from the Downloadable Documents table at the bottom of the page.
Following receipt of comments from the consultation process, the report has been agreed and River Quality Objectives are now set as Government targets. The final document is a list of all major rivers and streams on the island detailing their current quality, proposed future quality and the timescale over which any improvements are planned.
Download a copy of the River Quality Objectives Government Targets Report from the Downloadable Documents table at the bottom of the page.
Key Performance Indicators
The Government has set two targets in the form of Key Performance Indicators for both chemical and biological river quality. These require at least 98% of rivers achieving fair or above chemical quality and at least 98% of rivers achieving fair or above biological quality. These targets were achieved in the most recent survey of 2005.
River Pollution Incidents
Until 2003 when responsibility for investigating River Pollution Incidents was passed to the Department of Local Govnerment and the Environment's Environmental Protection Unit, the Government Laboratory undertook this work. The 6th and final annual report produced by the Laboratory details forty four incidents investigated on the Island in 2002. That year had shown a downward trend in the number of substantiated incidents. Farm and sewage incidents were most common, though with a reduction compared to previous years.
The Government Laboratory works with the Department's Environment Protection Officer who now is responsible for the investigations, undertaking appropriate analysis and examination of samples (which may include site visits to take the samples), and also notifying him of any abnormalities detected or questionable practices observed as a result of or during routine visits to the many river sites monitored by the Laboratory.
River Water Reports
Following the Baseline Survey, a full entitled River Quality 2000 was produced in 2002, covering the years 1998 - 2000, and a subsequent report "River Quality 2000" covering the period 2000 - 2005 was produced in 2007. These are all available to download at the bottom of this page.
In addition, brief summary update reports on general chemical and biological quality are produced annually, with the latest also available to download at the bottom of this page.
River Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions
Please click here for answers to a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on river water quality and related matters.
| The Government Laboratory | |
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| Freshwater Biologist | Dr Calum MacNeil |
| Address: | Ballakermeen Road Douglas |
| Post Code: | IM1 4 BR |
| Telephone: | 01624 642245 |
| Telephone: | 01624 642335 |
| Fax: | 01624 642222 |
| Email Address: | calum.macneil@lab.dlge.gov.im |
Download a copy of the River Pollution Incidents of 2002 Report from the downloadable documents table below.
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