Every single English water body is polluted with toxic chemicals, new government data shows, while just 14.3% of surface waters achieved good ecological status. The Environment Agency assessed rivers, lakes and estuaries as part of a six-yearly evaluation of England’s water quality, with the latest results showing that every single surface water body in England failed to reach good chemical status.
The EA checked for a range of toxic chemicals, from Pfas forever chemicals to microplastics, and also assessed waters against standards covering wildlife, water quality and physical habitat. If concentrations of the chemicals exceed the set standards, the water body fails to meet good chemical status. Under the Water Framework Directive Regulations, the official target date for all water bodies to reach good chemical and ecological status is December 2027, although some chemicals used to assess good chemical status have deadlines in the 2030s.
Why did every water body fail the chemical test?
The Environment Agency said the failure is driven almost entirely by the presence of mercury, Pfos – a type of Pfas forever chemical with - and Pbdes, which were formerly used as flame retardants. These chemicals are persistent, meaning they don’t break down and can accumulate in the environment.
England’s water bodies are not predicted to reach good chemical status until 2063, when the Environment Agency says the persistent chemical pollutants should have degraded sufficiently for our waters to again be considered unpolluted.
How bad is the ecological picture?
Assessment against a range of standards covering wildlife, water quality and physical habitat also showed that just 14.3% of England’s surface waters achieved good ecological status, down from 16.3% in 2019. The Environment Agency said the two datasets are not directly comparable because it has updated its analytical methods.
In a separate assessment, the country’s rivers, lakes and estuaries were each checked for toxic chemicals and wider environmental standards as part of the six-yearly review. The latest findings mean that while some water bodies may differ in ecological performance, none met the chemical threshold required for good chemical status.
What are ministers and campaigners saying?
Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK’s head of politics, said the
“scale of this crisis is sobering”. They said the government needs to take
“urgent action to turn off the chemicals that are destroying our land at the source,”and argued that water companies must be made to take responsibility for their part.
McCarthy also said pollution from agriculture is now one of the biggest drivers of environmental damage in UK rivers.
“It’s time for the government to work with farmers, providing proper support to rein in runaway use of fertilisers and pesticides, and boost nature-friendly practices,”McCarthy said.
The UK government has been accused of failing to take action on toxic chemicals after its failed to match the tougher stance being taken in Europe. The government has also been accused of failing to tackle mercury pollution, with Britain being one of the one of the few countries . Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can harm the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes, even at low levels of exposure.
Environment secretary Angela Eagle said the results
“underline the need for wholesale change across the water sector.”
The chief executive of campaign group River Action said that despite successive government’s promises, England’s rivers remain among the
“filthiest in Europe, poisoned by sewage from polluting, profit-driven water companies and by industrial-scale agriculture, including chicken manure runoff from intensive poultry units that rear tens of millions of birds for fast-food chains and supermarkets.
What is the Environment Agency doing next?
The Environment Agency said it is undertaking a range of activities to improve understanding of chemicals in the environment and identify potential sources affecting rivers, groundwater and drinking water catchments. Its assessments are intended to help trace where pollutants are entering the environment and to inform future action on water quality.
The results add to wider concerns about persistent chemical pollution across England’s waterways, including mercury, PFOS and PBDEs. Officials say these substances can remain in the environment for long periods, making cleanup and recovery a long-term challenge.
Key Facts
- Every English surface water body failed to reach good chemical status in the latest assessment.
- Just 14.3% of England’s surface waters achieved good ecological status, down from 16.3% in 2019.
- The main drivers of chemical failure were mercury, PFOS and PBDEs.
- The Water Framework Directive Regulations set December 2027 as the target date for good chemical and ecological status.
- The Environment Agency says good chemical status may not be reached until 2063.
