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…