More than 40 organisations have launched the Clean Water Now campaign ahead of the Water Reform Bill, warning that only 14% of England’s rivers are in good ecological condition. The coalition is calling for stronger action on pollution and greater investment in restoring waterways.
ENVIRONMENTAL groups representing more than 40 organisations have launched a major national campaign urging the Government to clean up England’s polluted waterways.
The coalition warns that the forthcoming Water Reform Bill offers a rare opportunity to reverse years of environmental decline. Only 14% of England’s rivers are currently in good ecological condition, with sewage discharges, agricultural pollution and toxic chemicals driving widespread habitat loss and posing increasing risks to public health.
Campaigners argue that weak regulation and years of political delay have allowed pollution to become entrenched. They claim water companies have prioritised shareholder returns over environmental protection, while regulators have lacked the powers and resources needed to enforce the law effectively.
The Clean Water Now campaign, organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link, sets out a series of demands for the Water Reform Bill, calling for tougher action on polluters, a stronger regulatory system, and significant investment in restoring nature. These measures include tighter controls on sewage releases, restrictions on intensive agriculture, bans on harmful chemicals and the creation of new habitats along rivers and coasts.
Senior figures from the environmental sector have voiced their concerns. Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said that weak oversight has allowed pollution to “pour into our rivers while wildlife declines and public trust drains away.” Friends of the Earth campaigner Kierra Box described the moment as “sink or swim time for the Government,” while the National Trust highlighted the daily impact of polluted waterways on landscapes and public enjoyment.
Freshwater charities, ecological societies and rural organisations have echoed the call for binding targets, stronger oversight and nature-based solutions, stressing the growing threat of PFAS chemicals, microplastics and agricultural run-off.
The coalition says public support for clean waterways is overwhelming, with communities around the country becoming increasingly vocal about sewage spills, eroded riverbanks, and declining fish populations. Anglers, swimmers, conservation volunteers and residents have reported visible deterioration in their local environments, adding pressure on MPs to back ambitious reforms.
As Parliament prepares to debate the Water Reform Bill, campaigners warn that half-measures will no longer be tolerated and that the Government must seize this moment to deliver a fundamental reset of water policy.
The groups behind the campaign are urging the public to contact their MPs and demand strong, enforceable measures. They argue that the strength of public pressure in the coming months may determine whether England’s waterways continue to decline or begin a long-awaited recovery.
It comes as Channel 4 recently broadcast Dirty Business, a docu-drama following a decade-long real-life investigation by two ordinary residents into sewage pollution and corporate misconduct by England’s water companies.
Rivers Trust sounds alarm
THE Rivers Trust has thrown its weight behind Clean Water Now, which follows the trust’s own Making Space for Water campaign launched last year to push for funding and support for nature-rich river corridors.
“More action is needed to protect and improve England’s waterways,” said chief executive Mark Lloyd. “Water is the life source of our landscape, economy and society, and we need to start valuing it as such. Far too many of our rivers are polluted with sewage and run-off from agriculture and highways, and many of their natural features have been destroyed.
“We need to see a higher level of ambition in the Water Reform Bill and recognition of the strategic importance of water across all government departments.”
A new report released as part of Clean Water Now outlines three key asks: restore nature, stop pollution at source, and fix the broken water system. It argues that years of weak enforcement, regulatory failure, and political delay have allowed pollution from sewage, agriculture, and toxic chemicals to continue while wildlife has declined, and public trust has eroded. It also calls for binding national targets, stronger regulators, and regional water authorities with real powers to plan and enforce action at catchment level.
Read the report at https://tinyurl.com/CleanWaterNow2026 and lobby your MP via https://tinyurl.com/CWNtakeaction
