What it means: the Environment Agency tests designated beaches, lakes and river spots for bacteria from sewage and farm run-off through the summer, and rates each one. More river sites have been designated in recent years and these tend to score lower, which partly explains the recent fall. More widely, only 14% of England’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters were in good ecological health in the 2025 assessment, which the Environment Agency says cannot be compared directly with the 16% in 2019. No ratings were made in 2020. A change of 2 points or more counts.

Source: Defra, Environmental Indicator Framework, theme B (water), indicator B4; Environment Agency classifications, 2025.