- Rivers are a major source of drinking water and support a range of wildlife. They are used for many recreational activities and supply water to industry. River Quality Objectives (RQOs) provide targets to help protect and improve the quality of water in our rivers.
- Despite a drop in compliance in 1997 and 1998 because of low river flows, there has been a substantial improvement in compliance with river quality objectives since 1995. The target for 2006 appears to have been met already but we cannot guarantee that this will be maintained until all planned improvements have been delivered, for example improvements to the sewerage system.
- The increase in compliance is due to a number of factors including a major clean-up of discharges from sewage-treatment works and industry. Between 1990 and 2000 industry invested large amounts of money in environmental programmes. For example, water companies spent over £4 billion on improving discharges to inland waters. In the five years to 2005, they will spend a further £2.9 billion. In addition the Environment Agency continues to prosecute illegal dischargers and enforce compliance with discharge consents.
Data for graph from Environment Agency (2005) “River Quality Compliance Data 1995-2004”
