A comprehensive environmental review has found that most of England's rivers and lakes are failing to meet ecological standards, marking little improvement since the last assessment six years ago. The findings have led to an investigation by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) into the government and the Environment Agency over possible rule breaches.
The government is currently projected to miss its legally binding target of restoring 77% of England's waters to good ecological status by 2027. The OEP has warned that this target will be missed by a "considerable margin."
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle stated that the figures highlight the necessity for "wholesale change across the water sector." She noted that new legislation has been introduced to hold water companies accountable and to drive significant investment, asserting a commitment to a system that prioritizes the public interest.
While much public debate has focused on pollution from water companies releasing sewage into rivers, campaigners and scientists also identify agriculture as a significant, albeit less scrutinized, source of pollution. Intensive farming operations, particularly poultry units, are cited as a growing threat to waterways like the Wye and Severn rivers. The waste from these operations, if entering rivers directly, can cause eutrophication, severely damaging the river's ecosystem.
Advocates are calling for sewage and agricultural pollution to be addressed with equal urgency. The Environment Agency also pointed to other sources of pollution affecting England's water bodies, including chemicals from roads, garden pesticides, and microplastics.
