The Environment Agency has warned that 86% of river water bodies in England failed to reach good ecological status in 2016 – and is calling on the water companies to do more.

The warning comes in the Agency’s State of the Environment report on the water quality of rivers, estuaries, coasts and groundwater in England, published today.

Image: Environment Agency

Introducing the report, Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said there are still far too many serious pollution incidents, 317 to water in 2016 and that unacceptable levels of phosphorus in over half of English rivers are usually due to sewage effluent and pollution from farm land.

She also warned that groundwater quality is currently deteriorating and is often heavily polluted with nitrates, mainly from agriculture.

The report shows that nearly half of groundwater bodies will not reach good chemical status by 2021 - only 53% achieved good chemical status in 2016. Groundwaters have been deteriorating in quality over the last 60 years. Nitrates account for 65% of the reasons for failure at groundwaters that are protected for use for drinking water and are classed at poor status.

The report draws attention to the presence of pesticides in water, saying that elevated levels of plant protection products such as metaldehyde can be ”problematic for drinking water abstractions.” Recent data suggests the pesticide cypermethrin may exceed more stringent environmental quality standards due to be introduced from 2018.

Agriculture is now the largest sector responsible for significant pollution events to water.

Over the last decade the number of serious water pollution incidents from water companies has remained broadly the same, with about 60 incidents each year. Since 2011 the Agency has brought 130 prosecutions against water companies.

Population growth, climate change, emerging chemicals, plastic pollution, nano-particles and fracking are all flagged up as potential future threats to water quality.

Increased population pressure, particularly in southern and south east England, will increase nutrient loadings. Increased phosphorus as a result of this pressure presents the most likely near-term risk of deterioration in rivers. It has been estimated to pose a risk to 2% of river water bodies in England.

The report concludes that housing and industrial growth, as well as urban creep, will increase the pressures on sewerage infrastructure, increasing the frequency that sewers flood. Urban creep is where residents in urban areas install or enlarge patios, extensions and driveways, increasing the impermeable area.

“The impact of urban creep on the sewer system is thought to be similar in magnitude to the impact of both population growth and climate change.” the report says.

Speaking to the Financial Times about the report today, the Environment Agency Chairman said:

“Despite the billions spent by the industry since the 1990s to improve and maintain assets, water companies are still responsible for an alarming amount of serious pollution incidents — at least one every week.

“This pollution can lead to the death of wildlife, major environmental damage and, in the worst cases, puts the public at risk — it is unacceptable. It’s imperative that company boards take environmental risk seriously and don’t see it as an optional extra.”

According to the article published in the newspaper this morning, the water companies are “scrambling to improve their performance” in the wake of the Labour party’s proposal to renationalise the industry.

Click here to download State of the environment water quality report 2016