EA 'relying on old data' for river health classifications

OFFICIAL classifications of the health of England’s rivers could be relying on data that is up to a decade old, campaigners have warned.

- REBECCA SPEARE-COLE

To assess the ecological status of a river, the watchdog uses several metrics, including the analysis of invertebrates in samples collected from watercourses, such as mayfly larvae, worms, snails, dragonflies or shrimps. These species play a vital role in understanding river health because of their sensitivity to pollution, lower oxygen levels and habitat degradation.

But the Environment Agency (EA) has been relying on samples taken years earlier to inform its official river health classifications, according to analysis of the watchdog’s data obtained by campaign group WildFish through freedom of information laws.

The agency carries out invertebrate assessments every six years, with updates every three years, under the Water Framework Directive - a Europe-wide initiative to help water bodies reach good ecological status and prevent deterioration.

The last major classifications for England’s rivers were released in 2019, with the new update for the 2025 cycle expected soon.

In 2019, only 16% of English rivers and canals were classed in “good” ecological health, and none was found to be in good chemical health.

However, WildFish’s analysis found that the EA heavily relied on older data then and may have to again for 2025. It argued that the upcoming classifications could therefore mislead the public, who may assume the monitoring is based on up-to-date information.