Data from the Environment Agency shows that just 14.3% of England’s surface waters achieved good ecological status, meeting the standards set out under the Water Framework Directive Regulations (WFDR).
Surface water bodies are classified as high, good, moderate, poor or bad, based on elements including aquatic species, temperature and oxygen levels, and the health of physical habitats such as riverbanks. Surface waters also receive a pass or fail for chemical status, covering issues such as legacy chemicals and microplastics. The data show that 65.4% of waterways were classified as moderate, 17% as poor, and 3.1% as bad.
Around half of all rivers have phosphate levels that exceed safe limits. Some of that is down to farming but sewage spills are also a significant factor. Data shows water companies made close to 300,000 sewage discharges in 2025. Although down on the previous year, the Rivers Trust said it should not be mistaken for progress with 2025 being a dry year.
The Environment Agency also noted that many factors can affect water including petrol and garden pesticides
Greenpeace said the findings should start alarm bells ringing. “The government needs to take urgent action to turn off the chemicals that are destroying our land at the source. The scale of this crisis is sobering. Water companies must be made to take responsibility for their part, but 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,” noted head of politics Ami McCarthy.
The agency’s June agriculture and water report recognised the work the industry is doing to alleviate the problem. Since 2021, 20,000 improvement actions have been completed on farms.
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: “Farmers and growers care deeply about the environment they live and work in. Producing high quality food and improving our water quality can and must go hand in hand.
“This report presents a picture of improving action on water quality, but it shows too the scale of the challenge remaining. Across the country, farmers and growers are already taking practical, on-the-ground steps to protect and improve water quality.
“This includes working in partnership with environmental organisations and water companies through catchment-based initiatives, investing where possible in farm infrastructure, and participating in agri-environment schemes that deliver benefits for water, wildlife and the wider landscape.”
