16/08/2005 - New figures
show the quality of rivers across Wales remains
high, Environment Agency Wales said today.
The Agency's latest annual assessment, for
2004, shows a slight improvement in the key
indicator of water chemistry compared to 2003,
with 94% - or over 4500km - of rivers being
classified as 'very good' or 'good' compared
to 93% in the previous year.
Water biology, which is a key indicator,
shows a small reduction in the length of the
best quality class over recent years although
a stable 79% still meet the criteria for the
top two grades in 2004.
Nutrient levels fluctuated slightly in 2004
as in previous recent years, and levels are
still low in a large proportion of rivers.
None of our rivers in 2004 were reported to
have high levels of nitrate, though phosphate
levels were high in 8% of rivers, the same
level as 2003 and lower than in 1995.
Roy Fowles, Acting Director Wales, said:
'General Quality Assessment (GQA) Chemistry
and Biology, our top two indicators, show
that our water environment is generally healthy.
Since 2000, with resources from a Welsh Assembly
Government funded Diffuse Pollution Project,
it is noticeable that the length of river
achieving the best chemical grade has increased.
This improvement has not, however, been reflected
in the biological position, which has shown
a slight drift away from the best quality
class.'
New quality standards to be set under the
EU Water Framework Directive will define new
targets for future environmental water quality
across Europe, and require more comprehensive
assessment of the 'ecological health' of rivers
and water bodies. Along with other member
states, the UK has completed an initial benchmarking
assessment of river catchments in the past
year.
Roy Fowles continued:
‘We are investigating the reasons behind
the apparent drift in our biological quality
from the best class and are looking at possible
contamination by substances such as sheep
dip chemicals which have a real impact on
the ecology of otherwise unpolluted watercourses.
We are aware that further work to address
diffuse pollution in Wales may be required
for us to meet the new EU standards. As part
of our Diffuse Pollution Project we are already
working with farmers to tackle diffuse water
pollution from agriculture. We will offer
extra advice to farmers in priority catchments,
where current good farming practice is not
enough to protect the environment. We are
also encouraging farmers to join agri-environment
schemes to reduce pollution from nutrients
and pesticides.'
The full findings of the Environment Agency's
latest General Quality Assessment (GQA) of
rivers in England and Wales can be found on
this website.
The latest GQA data will be incorporated
into the website 'What's in your backyard'
search pages by early September, allowing
web users to search water quality by postcode
or town.
