New report urges Government to stop pollution at source, fix the broken water system, and restore nature to England’s rivers, lakes and seas in next generation water reforms
A major coalition of environmental organisations have launched Clean Water Now, a new report setting out the urgent reforms needed in the upcoming Water Reform Bill.
Currently, sewage, farming pollution, and chemicals pollute rivers, lakes, and seas, with just 14% of English rivers in good ecological condition. Habitats are shrinking, wildlife is suffering, and people are getting sick. If Government doesn’t act now, this once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the rules could slip away, leaving England’s waters in decline for years.
The launch of the report marks the start of a new public campaign demanding ambitious action from Government, regulators, and industry. As a first step, campaigners are urging the public to email their MPs, calling them to back strong, enforceable measures to deliver clean water.
The report sets out three core demands for the Water Reform Bill:
- Stop the polluters − clamp down on sewage, restrict intensive agriculture and ban toxic chemical pollution.
- Fix the broken system − stop water companies putting profit before people and nature, with a tough new regulator focused on nature and local communities involved.
- Restore nature − creating new natural habitats along rivers and coastlines, building natural resilience to climate change and bringing wildlife to communities around the country.
Mark Robinson, Senior Campaigns Manager at WWT, the wetland charity, said: “We are a nation of water-lovers with one, simple message – enough is enough. Now is the time for a plan that matches the reality of the crises facing our waterways, and recognises the essential role of nature in bringing them back to health. If we’re truly to turn the tide on pollution, the government must ensure this unique opportunity to reform the system brings us more water, more wetlands and more wildlife.”
The report argues that years of weak enforcement, regulatory failure, and political delay have allowed pollution from sewage, agriculture, and toxic chemicals to continue while wildlife has declined, and public trust has eroded. It calls for binding national targets, stronger regulators, and regional water authorities with real powers to plan and enforce action at catchment level.
As Parliament prepares to debate the Water Reform Bill, campaigners say half-measures will no longer be tolerated. Public support for clean rivers and beaches is overwhelming, and communities across the country are demanding change. British waters cannot wait. Read the full Clean Water Now report here and take action by telling your MP that you expect laws for water that stop polluters, fix what’s broken, and deliver clean water − now.
