The Environment Agency report into water quality says:
- Around 1-in-7 surface waters in England achieve good ecological status. Within that, 1-in-8 rivers and only around 1-in-14 lakes are classed as good.
- The biggest challenge is phosphates from sewage and farm runoff, followed by pollutants such as petrol, garden pesticides and contaminated water running off roads picking up microplastics and chemicals
- No water body in England met the required standard for chemical pollution
- This is because substances such as heavy metals and ‘forever chemicals’ are building up
- Drought conditions in summer result in rivers running low, and this can concentrate pollution to more dangerous levels
This findings represent little change since the last report in 2019, albeit the figures aren’t directly comparable due to methodology changes.