England's rivers, lakes and coastal waters are in poor health, with the Environment Agency finding only about 15% of rivers and fewer than 7% of lakes classed as being in good ecological condition in the first comprehensive assessment in six years. No single waterway passed a separate test for chemical pollution, and phosphate from sewage and farm runoff is the biggest problem, with around half of rivers exceeding safe levels. The agency noted other pollutants including petrol, garden pesticides and microplastics in runoff. Despite a record 22 billion pound package for water company environmental improvements by 2030, the overall picture has changed little since 2019, although the agency said changes in assessment methods partly explain the steep fall in lakes rated good. The Office for Environmental Protection says the government is on course to miss its legally binding target of restoring 77% of waters to good status by 2027 and is investigating possible rule breaches by the government and the Environment Agency. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle called for wholesale change and cited new laws to hold water companies to account, while Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said the agency was boosting enforcement and recruiting its largest ever workforce. Water quality scientists and campaigners urged tougher action on farming as well as sewage, with Erica Popplewell warning intensive poultry units are damaging rivers such as the Wye and Severn.
