England’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, canals and coastal waters remain in poor ecological condition, with just 14.3% meeting the government’s standard of “good” ecological health, according to the latest assessment published in 2026 by the Environment Agency. This marks the first update in six years and evaluates 4,658 surface water bodies across the country based on criteria including wildlife populations, water quality, and physical habitat.
The findings indicate a slight decline from 16.3% in 2019, though the Environment Agency noted that changes in assessment methodology and a broader set of data limit direct comparison. Despite some areas of improvement in individual indicators—such as fish and plant health, which were rated good or high in approximately 82% of cases—the overall picture remains concerning. In particular, none of the water bodies met the standard for “good” chemical status, primarily due to persistent pollutants including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), mercury, and other so-called “forever chemicals” that linger in the environment long after their use was banned or restricted.
Key pollutants affecting water quality also include phosphate from agricultural runoff and sewage discharges, along with microplastics, ammonia, fertilizers, pesticides, litter, and fuels from urban areas and roads. Excess phosphates cause oxygen depletion and harmful algal blooms, further degrading aquatic ecosystems. The Environment Agency classified 17% of water bodies as poor, 3.1% as bad, and only 0.1% reached the highest category of ecological status.
Environmental campaigners and experts expressed deep concern over the results. James Wallace, chief executive of the River Action charity, criticized ongoing pollution from private water companies and large-scale agriculture, calling for governmental intervention to "take back control" of water firms to ensure they operate in public interest rather than for profit. Other voices, including Greenpeace’s head of politics Ami McCarthy, urged urgent government action to curb chemical abuse in farming and promote nature-friendly practices.
Government officials acknowledged the need for substantial reform. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle described the data as underscoring the requirement for “wholesale change” across the water sector. She highlighted recent legislation aimed at holding water companies accountable and cited a record £22 billion investment pledged by the industry for environmental improvements by 2030.
The Environment Agency chairman, Alan Lovell, emphasized the agency’s commitment to speeding up progress through enhanced enforcement, stronger regulatory powers, and better data collection. Nonetheless, the assessment suggests the legally binding target of restoring 75% of surface water bodies to good ecological status by 2027 is unlikely to be met.
The report also highlighted the severe condition of certain water bodies, including some rare chalk streams—unique habitats found primarily in England—which, despite their natural purification properties, are suffering significant pollution. Additionally, heavily impacted waterways include urban rivers like the River Wandle in London and sites affected by historic industrial activity or intensive agriculture.
Overall, the Environment Agency’s latest classification paints a troubling portrait of England’s aquatic environments, underscoring the challenges ahead in meeting statutory environmental goals and restoring clean, thriving waterways.