The Government has published details of a new project to plant extensive woodlands along England’s riverbanks launched to improve water quality, manage flood risk and boost biodiversity.

A new report by the Rivers Trust finds that England’s rivers, canals, lakes and ponds provide annual fisheries economic benefits in excess of £1.7 billion, plus numerous wider health and biodiversity benefits.

Organisations across England have been awarded up to £100,000 each, as part of the £10 million Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund to drive private investment in nature and tackle climate change.

Thames Water has gone out to tender with a contract for river restoration and associated works worth an estimated £30 million in total.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, has told the Parliamentary Committee currently conducting an inquiry into water quality in rivers that he would like to see “eye-watering fines” for water companies.

New research by experts from The University of Manchester has found that the poor management of untreated wastewater and raw sewage by water companies is the main source of microplastic pollution in the UK’s rivers.

Thames Water is partnering in an ambitious project which has been launched to monitor bacteria in Oxford’s rivers – alongside live alerts of sewage discharges from six popular bathing locations and a £26 million upgrade of the city’s sewage works.

New figures published by the Environment Agency have revealed that the ten water and wastewater companies in England and Wales discharged raw sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times for more than three million hours last year.

Anglian Water has today announced plans to fast track £300 million of investment specifically targeted at environmental improvements, river restoration projects and wetland treatment schemes.

The Storm Overflows Taskforce established last year to tackle river pollution has agreed a new objective to prevent damage from storm overflows.