Clean Water Now campaign sets out actions needed to restore our freshwater environment

Today, we join 45 partners in Wildlife and Countryside Link, launching a campaign for Clean Water Now. 

The campaign is focused on improving the upcoming Water Bill, with three priorities: fixing the system, stopping the polluters, and restoring freshwater wildlife. 

We’re proud to join brilliant organisations from across the nature sector and beyond, calling for a Water Bill which drives long overdue action to restore freshwater wildlife across the length and breadth of England. 

Amongst many important recommendations, the campaign calls on Government to end the neglect of our ecologically essential small waters, and to drive protection of the best freshwater habitats with a new ‘high status’ target. 

Our CEO, Professor Jeremy Biggs says: “The Water Reform Bill is this Government’s big chance to deliver on its promise of a fundamental reset for water policy, cutting pollution and restoring freshwater wildlife. To achieve this, the reforms must go further than current legislation in setting the quality standard for England’s waters. That’s why we want to see more ambitious targets for the remaining high-quality freshwaters, which are refuges for rare and threatened species. 

“The Bill is also a golden opportunity to accelerate recovery by recognising the critical importance of small waters, such as ponds, headwater streams and small wetlands, for freshwater wildlife. By investing in monitoring, creating, and restoring small waters, the Government can rapidly boost freshwater wildlife while the long-term work of restoring bigger rivers and lakes continues.” 

You can find out more about the Clean Water Now campaign here, and access a template to write to your MP here. The campaign report is available in full here.