The Environment Agency published its latest Water Framework Directive Regulations classifications on 6 August 2026, reporting that 14.3% of England's surface waters achieved good ecological status. All 4,658 surface water bodies were assessed. The agency said the figure is not directly comparable with the 16.3% reported in 2019 because analytical methods were updated, drawing on a wider set of monitoring data and focusing on places where problems were suspected.

The 2025 dataset also showed 65.4% of surface waters moderate (63% in 2019), 17% poor, 3.1% bad and 0.1% high. Groundwater stood at 41% good, up from 37% in 2019. All surface waters continue to fail chemical status, which the agency attributes largely to persistent pollutants. Under the "one-out, all-out" rule, around a third of failing water bodies did so because of a single element.

Agency chair Alan Lovell said too many water bodies still fall short of the standards, adding that the agency is directing action from water companies, farmers, businesses and councils. The agency said it would raise farm inspections from 4,000 to 6,000 annually over the next three years.