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Sustainable consumption and production
Natural resource protection and enhancing the environment

30. River quality*

(a) Rivers of good biological quality, 1990 to 2007

River quality1

(b) Rivers of good chemical quality, 1990 to 2007

River quality2

Biological since:
1990
Green
2003
Green
Chemical quality since:
1990
green
2003
green
  • Between 1990 and 2007 the percentage of rivers of good biological quality in England rose from 55 to 72 per cent. Similarly, 76 per cent of English rivers were of good chemical quality in 2007, compared with 55 per cent in 1990.  
  • In 2007, 87 per cent of rivers in Wales were of good biological quality.  In all years since 1993 over 90 per cent of rivers in Wales have been of good chemical quality.
  • In 2006, 54 per cent of rivers in Northern Ireland were of good biological quality, and 74 per cent of rivers were of good chemical quality.
  • In Scotland,  the percentage of rivers of good quality has remained stable at around 88 per cent between 2000 and 2006, based on a combined chemical, biological and aesthetic assessment.
  • The traffic light assessments are based on the biological and chemical quality of rivers in England only.  It is not possible to produce aggregate UK measures.
  • River quality is to be classified under the EU Water Framework Directive from 2007 onwards.  This indicator will in due course be changed to reflect the new classification.
  • Scotland and Northern Ireland are now focusing on the EU Water Framework Directive classification, gathering relevant data and developing new indicators.  Further updates to this indicator are not currently available.

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Updated: 30 July 2009