A comprehensive assessment of England's waterways is the first in six years and shows little improvement.

England's rivers, lakes and coastal waters remain in a challenging state with only around one in seven classed as being in good ecological condition, according to the first comprehensive assessment of their health in six years. Data from the Environment Agency shows that while 15% of rivers are classed as good, fewer than 7% of lakes reached that level. No single waterway passed a separate test for chemical pollution. The biggest individual problem is phosphate - a nutrient from sewage and farm runoff - with around half of rivers still exceeding safe levels. Despite a record £22bn earmarked for water company environmental improvements by 2030, the overall picture has changed little since 2019. The government is already on course to miss its legally binding target of restoring 77% of England's waters to good ecological status by 2027 - a goal the environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection, has warned will be missed by a "considerable margin". It's now investigating both the government and the Environment Agency over possible rule breaches. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said the figures "underline the need for wholesale change across the water sector". She pointed to new laws the government has introduced to hold water companies to account and record investment. "We will drive forward a system that puts the public interest first," she said.