What Is The UK Government Doing To Tackle Water Pollution?

Water pollution is one of the biggest issues facing the UK’s natural environment, with problems increasing over time and, seemingly, relatively little being done to address the challenges that the nation’s rivers, lakes, streams and oceans now face.

In fact, it’s almost as if the opposite is happening, with Environment Agency figures published in July 2025 showing that serious pollution incidents caused by water companies rose 60 per cent over the course of 12 months.

What are the main sources of water pollution in the UK?

Some of the biggest causes of water pollution include:

Agriculture

One of the main sources of pollution is the use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides by the agriculture industry, increasing the amount of surplus nitrate entering the environment. 

When used on land, these chemicals are washed into waterways by rainfall, as well as leaching from the soil into groundwater. Manure from intensive farming can also cause water pollution.

Figures show that diffuse farming pollution impacts 40 per cent of waterways.

Urban and transport runoff

Here, surface water picks up pollutants from the urban environment before it enters into rivers, lakes and streams, with 18 per cent of water bodies affected in this way.

Abandoned metal mines

Although historically Britain’s metal mines have had an important role to play, water draining from abandoned mines and contaminated waste left at the surface is still causing water pollution and harming biodiversity and local ecosystems. 

Figures show that three per cent of waterways are affected by these abandoned mines.

The water industry

Some 36 per cent of water bodies are affected by pollution caused by the water industry, with sources including storm overflows, sewage treatment works and wastewater.

UK water quality stats: 2024-2025

Environment Agency figures (published November 25th) show:

• 87 per cent of 449 designated bathing sites in England are classified as having Excellent or Good water quality status, up on 2024
• 93 per cent were rated as Excellent, Good or Sufficient
• 297 sites were rated as Excellent, up from the 289 in 2024
• 32 sites were rated as Poor, down from 37
• Bathing water quality can be influenced by storm overflows, agricultural runoff, dogs, birds and local catchment issues
• Note that almost no water quality tests are currently carried out on rivers, canals and streams, with only two designated bathing water sites found along river lengths

The Rivers Trust annual State of Our Rivers report (published in February 2024) revealed:

• No stretch of river in England or Northern Ireland is in good overall health
• Just 15 per cent of English rivers are classified as being in good ecological health
• Toxic chemicals pollute every stretch of river in England
• 23 per cent of rivers in England are classified as being in poor or bad overall status
• 62 per cent of rivers failed ecological health tests because of agricultural/rural land management activities (such as pollution from fertiliser or livestock)
• 54 per cent of rivers failed because of activities related to the water industry (such as groundwater abstraction and treated/untreated sewage discharge)
• 26 per cent of rivers failed because of the urban and transport sector

The Environment Agency’s annual storm overflow event duration monitoring data report (published in March 2025) showed:

• Raw sewage spillages in rivers reached an all-time high of more than 3.6 million hours… 8,558 hours more (0.22 per cent) than in 2023
• On average, each storm overflow discharged for eight hours per incident, up from the 7.8 hours in 2023 and the 5.8 hours in 2022
• A total of 450,398 monitored spill events/discharges were counted
• Each storm overflow recorded, on average, 31.8 spills – down from 33 in 2023. The government target for this is less than ten per year

Research from the University of York (published in June 2025) shows:

• The presence of forever chemicals in rivers around the UK has reached some of the highest levels ever recorded
• Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA; a chemical commonly found in household items) was present in 98 per cent of tested sites nationwide
• Rivers in North Yorkshire are among the worst offenders
• As of November 2025, guidelines/standards for the presence of forever chemicals in water were not legally binding and recommended limits are 2.5 times higher than in the US. 
• An independent review into the water system found that stricter treatment requirements were necessary to protect the environment and public health

Given that public interest in the health of the nation’s watercourses has never been higher, now’s the perfect time to ask:

What is the UK government doing to tackle water pollution?

New water system overhaul

The government has just published (January 20th) its Water White Paper, detailing clear powers for the new regulator, as well as stronger accountability for suppliers and more stringent oversight.

A chief engineer will be brought in to sit alongside the regulator, with the aim being to reintroduce hands-on checks of infrastructure to ensure service reliability.

This new MOT approach will mean that health checks are required for pipes, pumps and other components, a more proactive way of working that will identify problems before they manifest, thereby preventing water shortages.

Water companies will also have to plan for the long term, with new improvement regimes giving the regulatory greater powers to address underperformance.

Pre-pipe solutions to tackle water pollution will also be prioritised, addressing the root causes through rainwater management and sustainable drainage, as well as tackling sewer misuse.

The Water (Special Measures) Act

The Environment Agency now has the power to bring criminal charges against water executives who fail to cooperate or obstruct their investigations, with prison sentences a potential consequence.

Performance-related bonuses can also be blocked if it’s found that companies haven’t lived up to their environmental and financial responsibilities.

Elsewhere, water suppliers now have to publish real-time data on sewage spills and annual pollution incident reduction plans will need to be published from April 2026, showcasing how they intend to reduce such incidents.

£104 billion investment in infrastructure upgrades

In 2025, the government secured £104 billion in private sector investment to upgrade old sewage pipes and reduce sewage pollution incidents by half come 2030. 

This funding will be spread over five years, helping to protect household bills while continuing to attract sector investment over the long term.

Water fine investment in local projects

Water company fines, issued in circumstances such as environmental permit breaches, are being invested in local projects to clean up rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

Now, £29 million is being reinvested, with more than 100 projects funded to improve 450km of rivers, plant 100,000 new trees and restore 650 acres of natural habitats.

Funding for catchment partnerships is being doubled, with £1.7 million made available annually over the next two years. 

And both the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme and the Water Environment Improvement Fund will be supported, with projects involving habitat restoration, water quality improvement and tackling pollution at source.

Environment Agency/UK water quality regulations

The Water Environment Regulations 2017 apply to surface waters and groundwater, setting out how to prevent aquatic environments, while protecting/enhancing/restoring waterways to Good status and achieving compliance/objectives for protected areas.

The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 are used by the Environment Agency to regulate the water industry’s wastewater practices through the use of permits, as well as monitoring, inspecting and investigating where necessary, with enforcement action taken as appropriate.

The Environment Act 2021 sets out additional legal requirements for water quality and waterway classification based on chemical status.

The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018 state that drinking water must be wholesome, not containing any microorganism, parasite or substance at concentrations or values that would pose potential risks to human health.

The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 dictate monitoring of bacterial levels to classify bathing sites as Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor.

What is Defra’s role in combating water pollution in the UK?

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for promoting a green economy, managing rural communities, prioritising animal welfare, protecting the environment and supporting the agricultural industry.

It sets legislation and government policy for sustainable development, food standards, biodiversity… and water pollution control, which it achieves by:

• Setting targets for pollution reduction from sources including chemicals, storm overflow use and agriculture
• Keeping water companies accountable via the Environment Agency, which now has greater powers to monitor and inspect sites (with no notice), and fine executives for failing to uphold rigorous environmental, financial and consumer-focused standards
• Driving £104 billion in private investment to upgrade water infrastructure, with the aim being to prevent sewage spills altogether
• Supporting the Catchment Sensitive Farming programme to help those in the sector reduce pollution, with funding available via the Sustainable Farming Incentive
• The newly published Vision for Water white paper, launched in January 2026, sets out how the government plans to reform the water sector to ensure that it delivers a safe and secure supply, fair deals for customers and investors, and a protected and enhanced environment

How are UK citizens involved in tackling water pollution?

Citizen science is an effective way of addressing the UK’s water quality challenges, where members of the public collect data of their own, helping experts understand river health while mobilising local communities.

The Great UK WaterBlitz Autumn 2025 report from Earthwatch Europe saw 5,708 citizen scientists survey freshwater sites, revealing:

• 60 per cent of data points around the UK show poor water quality and unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution
• England consistently has the worst water quality in the UK, with 66 per cent of sites registering unacceptable nutrient pollution levels
• The Thames River basin district has the worst water quality in the UK, where 82 per cent of measurements show unacceptable pollution levels
• Northumberland has the best water quality in the UK, with 94 per cent of measurements demonstrating good ecological status
• Cambridgeshire has the worst water quality in the UK, with 91 per cent of measurements demonstrating poor ecological status
• Every single freshwater sample had additional chemical contamination, evidence of pollution from agricultural runoff and sewage discharges

Other ways that citizens can get involved to help improve water quality include:

• Joining The Big River Watch to spend 15 minutes observing a local river and answering some questions on the survey app to help develop a clearer picture of river health
• Participating in the EMPOWER Rivers project from Thames21, where volunteers monitor water quality to tackle pollution in London rivers
• Taking part in riverfly monitoring across chalk rivers in North Norfolk to better assess water ecosystem health

What is being done to improve water quality in the UK?

Various initiatives are under way to improve water quality management around the UK, including:

Nature-based solutions to filter pollutants, manage nutrients & manage stormwater

• Sustainable urban drainage systems
• Constructed wetlands
• Reed beds
• Improving soil health to prevent soil erosion and reduce nutrient leaching into waterways

Agricultural management to prevent pollution & sediment runoff into water

• Nutrient management, matching nutrients with crop requirements to reduce excess runoff
• Tree and vegetation installation between fields and waterways to trap nutrients and sediment
• Proper slurry and manure storage to prevent runoff
• Use of cover crops to minimise soil erosion
• Manage livestock to prevent soil compaction and bank erosion
• Changing to low-risk land uses to reduce nutrient leaching )such as turning arable land into woodland)

Infrastructure upgrades

• Investments are being made across the sewage network to reduce storm overflow use
• Wastewater treatment plants are being upgraded to remove more contaminants from supply
• Smart meter rollout schemes are being implemented to manage water leaks and demand

How does the UK government’s water pollution strategy compare to other European countries?

The UK’s approach to water quality management appears to be less effective than its EU counterparts, with higher rates of pollution and weaker enforcement

Figures from campaign group Best for Britain, published in August 2025, show:

• 64.2 per cent of bathing waters in England were rated as Excellent in 2024, compared to the EU’s 85.4 per cent
• England had the highest percentage of Poor rated sites in the UK and the EU (8.2 per cent)

According to The Rivers Trust:

• The European Commission is proposing to expand the number of priority substances to 70 (up from 45), with stricter standards brought in. But analysis of forever chemical levels in English rivers shows that at least 77 per cent of them would not meet these standards… more than half of them by five times or more.

Wildlife Trusts analysis of the Water Framework Directive, set up 25 years ago, indicates:

• Just 16 per cent of England’s waters are at Good ecological status and none are at Good Chemical status. The nation’s waters are not expected to reach this level until 2063, when chemical pollutants will have degraded sufficiently for water to be considered unpolluted
• However, there are various nations in the EU facing similar struggles. In the Netherlands and Luxembourg , all waterways are classified as being Moderate at best, while even the top performers don’t exceed England’s 78 per cent target.

UK water quality improvement targets and progress

The government’s primary water quality improvement targets include:

• Reducing agricultural pollution (including nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment) by at least 40 per cent by 2038. By 2030, a 12 per cent reduction target for nutrient pollution has been set
• Reducing storm overflow spills by 50 per cent come 2030
• Reducing phosphorus pollution from treated wastewater by 50 per cent come 2028
• 100 per cent of storm overflows are now monitored, with this target being met at the end of 2023
• Long-term trends for river quality show improvement, with ammonia levels and biochemical oxygen demand falling significantly since 1995, with more than 60 per cent reductions in loading from treatment works seen. However, just 33 per cent of surface water were classified as being in excellent or good ecological status in 2024
• Drinking water compliance with water safety parameters is above 99.9 per cent

Funding for water pollution control projects by the UK government

The Water Restoration Fund

Up to £11 million is available via this scheme to fund local projects, aiming to restore and enhance the water environment using penalties and fines paid by water and sewerage companies.

Successful projects have to focus on improving and preventing deterioration of the water environment in the regions where the fines were issued.

This is a competitive grant scheme, limited to the catchment areas of Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, United Utilities and South West Water. Applications are assessed against scheme objectives, competitors and value for money.

The Catchment Partnership Fund

This fund was set up to deliver improved water quality in line with the Water Framework Directive, supporting catchment partnerships and helping to fund local projects, as well as for support tools, training and guidance.

The Catchment Based Approach initiative is a civil society-led scheme that works with government, local authorities, businesses and water companies to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits, and protect the water environment.

Get in touch

If, as a business, you’d like to find out more about water stewardship and how you could improve water quality in the UK, get in touch with the Switch Water Supplier team today.