Data released yesterday by the Environment Agency shows that the quality of water in rivers in England and Wales continues to improve.

Figures from the Environment Agency's annual General Quality Assessment (GQA) show that 76 per cent of English rivers, and 95 per cent of those in Wales, achieved 'very good' or 'good' status in terms of chemical water quality in 2007, up from 55 and 86 per cent respectively in 1990.
The biological quality of rivers also continued to improve, with 72 per cent of rivers in England and 87 per cent of those in Wales, achieving 'very good' or 'good' status last year, up from 55 and 79 per cent respectively in 1990.

The Environment Agency is working hard to keep improving water quality. For example, in Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District, the Environment Agency, along with other organisations, has significantly helped to reduce algal blooms by working with farmers to reduce fertiliser use and has promoted native habitats to help prevent soil erosion.

Improvements in water quality have also been due to the substantial investment made by water companies in addition to work carried out by the Environment Agency and others. Through its involvement in Ofwat's current Periodic Review of water charges, the Environment Agency will seek to ensure that such investment continues so that water quality continues to improve to meet future challenges such as those posed by
climate change. The water companies submitted draft business plans for 2010-2015 in August and the Environment Agency will be publishing its response to these in early October.

Under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), water quality assessments are being published using a new, tougher methodology for the first time this year. In addition to rivers, the WFD also applies to lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater, not previously included in GQA results.

The new assessments focus on the ecological health of waters. Up to 37 measures of water quality, such as the health of river insects and plants, are scrutinised and the grading of each water body is set by the measure which scores the lowest result. Under this new, more stringent, system, 19 per cent of water bodies are classed as 'good' or 'high', 49 per cent 'moderate', 21 per cent 'poor' and seven per cent 'bad'.
However, over half of water bodies did not meet 'good' status by missing only one indicator. This means that by taking action to improve a single measure, many more waters will achieve 'good' status.

Paul Leinster, the Environment Agency's Acting Chief Executive, said:

"Water quality in England and Wales has improved dramatically over the last 20 years. The Water Framework Directive gives us new ways of measuring the health and quality of water and improving our understanding of the water environment as well as the health of associated animals and plants.

"None of the previous major improvements in water quality have been lost. The new classifications enable us to take more targeted action to improve water quality further."

The new classification system forms the basis of the Environment Agency's draft River Basin Management Plans, which will set out plans to further improve the water environment from 2010 to 2015 and beyond. The plans will be published for public consultation through the first half of 2009, and the Environment Agency will be encouraging all interested parties to engage with the plan relevant to their local area.