Majority of England's rivers and lakes fail new environmental review
Environment Agency data reveals that most English rivers and lakes fall short of environmental standards, with every single waterway failing chemical tests.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Only 15% of rivers in England are classed as having good ecological status
- Fewer than 7% of lakes reached the good status level in the review
- Phosphate from sewage and farming causes half of rivers to exceed safe levels
- A record £22bn is earmarked for water company environmental upgrades by 2030
Data released by the Environment Agency shows that only 15% of rivers in England are classified as good, while fewer than 7% of lakes reached that standard. More concerningly, not a single waterway passed a separate assessment testing for chemical pollution.
The primary individual pollutant is phosphate, a nutrient originating from sewage discharge and agricultural runoff, which drives about half of all rivers past safe concentration thresholds. Despite a record-breaking investment of £22bn earmarked for water company environmental improvements by 2030, the overarching condition of England's waters has remained virtually unchanged since 2019.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle stated that the figures underline the urgent need for wholesale transformation across the entire water sector, highlighting new government legislation aimed at holding water companies accountable.
"We will drive forward a system that puts the public interest first."
Angela Eagle
While public debate heavily focuses on water companies dumping sewage, campaigners and scientists argue that agriculture is an equally massive source of pollution that receives far less scrutiny. Erica Popplewell from the campaign group River Action pointed out that intensive poultry units housing hundreds of thousands of birds pose a growing threat to rivers like the Wye and Severn. Additional pollutants cited by the Environment Agency include petrol, garden pesticides, and road runoff containing microplastics.
The failure of all waterways in chemical testing is heavily tied to legacy pollutants, such as heavy metals from historical mining that take decades to break down. Furthermore, current drought conditions across England lower river flows, concentrating these hazardous substances and placing aquatic life at even greater risk.
Prof Penny Johnes, a water quality expert at the University of Bristol, told BBC News that the actual condition of these water bodies is likely even worse than official classifications indicate. With 23 enforcement notices currently issued against water companies regarding PFAS reduction, the debate over regulating these enduring chemicals continues as industries grapple with treatment costs and widespread usage.
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