Only 14% of England's Waters Meet Ecological Standards

A report by the Environment Agency reveals that only 14.3% of England's surface waters are in good ecological status. The rest are polluted with toxic chemicals such as PFAS, microplastics, mercury, and other pollutants. Every single water body in England, including rivers, lakes, and estuaries, was assessed as part of a six-yearly evaluation. The pollution is attributed to regular or irregular discharges, agricultural fertilizers, garden pesticides, petroleum products, and diverse waste in cities and open fields. The government aims to return 25% of waters to an acceptable ecological state by 2027, but current figures show a decline from 16.3% in 2019.