Majority of England’s rivers and lakes fail new environmental review
Only around one in seven of England's rivers and lakes have been classed as being in good ecological condition, according to the first comprehensive Environment Agency assessment in six years, with no waterway passing a separate chemical pollution test. The findings matter because they show little improvement since 2019 despite a record £22bn earmarked for water company environmental upgrades by 2030, and confirm the government is on track to miss its legally binding 2027 target of restoring 77% of waters to good ecological status.
The Environment Agency found 15% of rivers and fewer than 7% of lakes reached "good" status, with phosphate from sewage and farm runoff the biggest single problem, affecting roughly half of rivers. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said the results underlined the need for "wholesale change" across the water sector, while campaigners such as River Action highlighted intensive poultry farming, alongside sewage, as a major but under-scrutinised pollution source. The Office for Environmental Protection is investigating both the government and the Environment Agency, and scientists including Bristol's Professor Penny Johnes warned the true state of the waters is likely worse than reported, as the monitoring scheme measures too few pollutants too infrequently.
- Just 15% of English rivers, under 7% of lakes rated "good"
- No waterway passed chemical pollution testing
- Government set to miss 2027 water quality target by a wide margin
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Water quality in England's rivers, lakes and other waterways is regularly assessed by the Environment Agency, which grades them according to ecological health and the presence of harmful chemicals. Governments have set legal targets for improving this water quality, backed by investment from water companies, which are private firms responsible for sewage treatment and wastewater infrastructure across the country.
Pollution in waterways comes from several sources, including sewage discharges from water company networks and runoff from farms, which can carry chemicals such as phosphates into rivers and lakes. Responsibility for tackling this is shared between water companies, farmers and government regulators, with oversight from bodies including the Environment Agency and the Office for Environmental Protection, an independent watchdog that can investigate whether public bodies are meeting their environmental duties.
The condition of rivers and lakes matters because it affects drinking water supplies, wildlife, and public health, including the safety of activities such as swimming. It has also become a politically sensitive issue in recent years, with rising public concern over sewage pollution putting pressure on water companies and ministers to demonstrate progress toward legally binding environmental targets.