River Blackwater (River Test) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blackwater
River Blackwater east of Testwood Lakes
Country	United Kingdom
Region	Wiltshire, Hampshire
Physical characteristics
Main source	Redlynch, Wiltshire 50°59′23″N 1°42′44″W / 50.98972°N 1.71222°W / 50.98972; -1.71222
River mouth	Totton Hampshire 50°55′36″N 1°29′31″W / 50.92667°N 1.49194°W / 50.92667; -1.49194
Length	45.0 km (28.0 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	67.5 km2 (26.1 sq mi)

The River Blackwater is a river in England. It flows through parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire. This river is a smaller branch, also known as a tributary, of the larger River Test.

Where Does the River Blackwater Flow?

The River Blackwater begins near the village of Redlynch in Wiltshire. This is east of the city of Salisbury. From there, it flows east into the county of Hampshire.

Journey Through Hampshire

As it moves into Hampshire, the river passes north of the village of West Wellow. It also flows by the small area called Wigley. The river then turns south. It goes under the M27 motorway, which is a major road.

Meeting the River Test

The Blackwater continues its journey past Broadlands Lake. It also flows by the Testwood Lakes reservoirs. These are places where water is stored. Finally, the River Blackwater joins the River Test. This meeting point is between the towns of Totton and Redbridge.

How Long is the River?

The Environment Agency keeps track of rivers in England. They say the main part of the River Blackwater is about 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi) long. There's an extra 5.6 km (3.5 mi) of water flow from Redlynch. This longer path leads to where it joins another stream north of Hamptworth.

River Health: Water Quality

The Environment Agency also checks how healthy the water is in England's rivers. They give each river system an overall "ecological status." This status can be high, good, moderate, poor, or bad.

What Does Water Quality Mean?

To figure out the ecological status, they look at several things.

• Biological status: This checks the types and numbers of living things in the water. They look at small creatures like invertebrates (animals without backbones). They also check for different kinds of flowering plants and fish.
• Chemical status: This looks at how many chemicals are in the water. They compare these amounts to safe levels. The chemical status is either "good" or "fail."

River Blackwater's Health in 2019

In 2019, here's what the water quality of the River Blackwater was like: