30. River quality*
(a) Rivers of good biological
quality, 1990 to 2006
(b) Rivers of good chemical quality,
1990 to 2006
| Biological and chemical quality (in England and Wales) since: |
1990 |
|
1999 |
|
- Between 1990 and 2006 the percentage of rivers of good biological quality in England rose from 60 to 71 per cent. In 2006, 54 per cent of rivers in Northern Ireland and 82 per cent of rivers in Wales were of good biological quality.
- In 2006, 66 per cent of English rivers were of good chemical quality, compared with 43 per cent in 1990. In Northern Ireland 74 per cent of rivers were of good chemical quality in 2006 compared with 44 per cent in 1991. In all years since 1993 over 90 per cent of rivers in Wales have been of good chemical quality.
- In Scotland, the percentage of rivers of good quality has remained stable at around 87 per cent between 2000 and 2006, based on a combined chemical, biological and aesthetic assessment.
- The traffic light assessments above are based on the biological and chemical quality of rivers in England and Wales only. It is not possible to produce aggregate UK measures.
- This indicator will in due course be changed to reflect assessments of ecological status as required by the EU Water Framework Directive.
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