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Rivers: Pollution

Asked by Adam DanceLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 27 May 2026UIN 2437

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of pollution in the rivers (a) Yeo and (b) Parrett.

Answered by Emma Hardy

In the Parrett catchment over 80% of the rivers and streams are classified as Moderate Ecological Status. The River Yeo shows a clear improvement, with overall classifications improving from Poor (2009–2010) to Moderate from 2011 onwards. Similarly, the main River Parrett improved from Poor or Bad status in the early 2010s to predominantly Moderate by the mid‑2010s. A comparable pattern is seen for phosphate, which improved from Poor to mainly Moderate but has since plateaued, indicating ongoing nutrient enrichment.

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