This data can be accessed from the Catchment Data Explorer: https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning.
The current health of the water environment is assessed in terms of its status. Surface waters are assessed for ecological status or potential and chemical status. Groundwaters are assessed for quantitative status and chemical status.
A range of quality elements are assessed in each water body. For a water body to achieve good status, every element assessed must be at good status or better. If one element is below its threshold for good status, then the water body’s status is classed as less than good.
Ecological status can be classed as high, good, moderate, poor, or bad.
Surface water chemical status can be classed as good or fail.
Since the current plans were published in 2016 the approach to chemical status classification has changed. A more advanced and sophisticated approach to classifying the chemical status of English water bodies is being used. This helps to more accurately reflect the accumulation of some of the more persistent substances which can be underestimated by monitoring water alone.
Groundwater quantitative and chemical status can be classed as good or poor.
This data supports the Water Framework Directive river basin management plans that can be found here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2026. All rights reserved.