- Only 14% of England’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters were rated in good ecological condition, with none meeting the chemical standard.
- Chemical pollution, including PFAS and phosphate from sewage and farm waste, was found in all assessed waters, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of England’s water cleanup plan.
- Polluted waters can impact activities like swimming and fishing, as well as wildlife and water treatment costs, with campaigners calling for urgent action to address pollution from both water companies and agriculture.
New data shows England’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are still heavily polluted. Only 14% were rated in good ecological condition, and none of the waters assessed passed the chemical standard
The new figures underscore how difficult it will be to restore some of the country’s most important natural resequences
What’s happening?
According to new Environment Agency figures chemical pollution was found in all of England’s assessed waters, while just 14% received a “good” ecological rating
Advertisement
PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” and phosphate linked to sewage and waste from farm animals were identified as the main pollutants, and every body of water missed the chemical benchmark. Ecological conditions were also poor overall, with lakes performing worst: only 7% earned a good rating, compared with 15% of rivers
The EA also found that the safe phosphate limit was exceeded in about half of rivers. That is prompting new questions about whether England’s decade-long, $30 billion water cleanup plan is delivering enough progress
The Office for Environmental Protection is investigating the government and the EA after the watchdog said the country was likely to miss, by a “considerable margin,” its 2027 target of getting 77% of waters into good ecological condition
Why does it matter?
Polluted rivers, lakes, and coastal waters can affect swimming, fishing, wildlife, and the cost and complexity of treating water for public use. Persistent chemicals such as PFAS do not break down easily, while sewage and farm runoff can fuel algae growth and degrade ecosystems that people rely on every day
Advertisement
The findings also suggest the issue is not tied to a single agriculture is also playing a major role. River Action said England’s rivers were some of the “filthiest in Europe, poisoned by sewage from polluting, profit-driven water companies and by industrial-scale agriculture,”Â
The EA said England may need almost 40 years to reach good chemical status, in part because these long-lasting pollutants take time to break down before waters can be classified as no longer polluted
What’s being done?
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said the results show “fundamental reform” is needed across the industry, while also arguing that the government has introduced laws that hold water companies legally accountable and has overseen record investment
The EA said it is working to better understand which chemicals are present in the environment and to identify pollution
Advertisement
Environmental groups are also pushing for broader action. Greenpeace U.K. urged the government to move quickly not only on sewage but also on agricultural pollution. Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace U.K.’s head of politics, said, “Water companies must be made to take responsibility for their part, but pollution from agriculture is now one of the biggest drivers of environmental damage in U.K. rivers,” per UPI.Â
Eagle said the government would “drive forward a system that puts the public interest first.”
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here
