River quality

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Rivers of good biological quality, 1990 and 2006

Source: Defra

Rivers of good chemical quality, 1990 and 2006

Source: Defra

River water quality can be assessed in both chemical and biological terms. For chemical quality, there was a 23 percentage point increase in river lengths classified as good in England between 1990 and 2006. River lengths with good biological water quality increased by 11 percentage points.
The East Midlands was the most improved region for river lengths classified for both good chemical and biological water quality over this period, with river length increases of 43 percentage points and 25 percentage points respectively.
Most other regions saw increases of over 20 percentage points in river lengths classified as of good chemical quality. In term of biological water quality, other regions saw increases of between 8 (South West) and 17 (East of England) percentage points.
In 2006 chemical water quality was best in the North East (82 per cent of river lengths classified as 'good') and worst in London (36 per cent). Biological quality was highest in the South West (89 per cent) and again lowest in London, where only 21 per cent of rivers were classed as having 'good' biological quality. The England averages were 66 per cent for chemical quality and 71 per cent for biological quality.

Updated: 31 January 2008