Water Quality

The Environment Agency undertakes routine water quality monitoring using chemical and biological methods at several locations within the Cam Conservancy Area:

Upper River (Byron's Pool to Bishop's Mill)

Sheep's Green, Newnham

Middle River (Mill Pond to Jesus Sluices)

No monitoring stations

Lower River (Jesus Sluices to Bottisham Lock)

A1134 Elizabeth Way Road Bridge, Cambridge
A14 Road Bridge, Fen Ditton/Milton (N.B. treated sewage effluent discharged in the river here from Milton Sewage Treatment Works)
Clayhithe Bridge, Waterbeach

Using a biological classification method, water quality has been assessed reach-by-reach by the EA as follows:

Reach	Year	Classification
Bourn Brook: M11 road bridge to Byron’s Pool, Grantchester	2005	B (good)
River Cam: Newnham to A1134 Elizabeth Way road bridge	2005	C (fairly good)
River Cam: A1134 Elizabeth Way road bridge to A14 road bridge, Milton	2005	C (fairly good)
River Cam: A14 road bridge, Milton, to Clayhithe Bridge, Waterbeach	2003	B (good)

For further information visit the 'What's in my backyard?' section on the Environment Agency's web pages at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or contact the EA at their Central Area office, Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4NE.