Clean Water Now
Along with 40 other organisations, we're demanding Clean Water Now from the UK Government, to achieve our goal of sewage-free seas.
An opportunity: the Water Bill
Clean water can’t wait: The UK Government must seize the opportunity of the Water Reform Bill to stop the polluters, fix the broken water system, and restore nature. New laws should:
- Stop the polluters: clamp down on sewage, and intensive agricultural and chemical pollution.
- Fix the broken system: stop water companies putting profit before people and nature.
- Restore nature: bring seas, lakes and rivers back to life with healthier habitats, cleaner water, and safe access for people.
How you can take action
Head to the Friends of the Earth website and tell your MP to take action:
Add your voice >
The problem
Fixing England’s water system is essential for nature recovery, pollution reduction, and people’s health and wellbeing.
Right now, untreated sewage, farming pollution, microplastics and harmful chemicals are choking seas, rivers and lakes. Habitats are shrinking, wildlife is declining and communities are paying the price.
For years, we have campaigned to stop untreated sewage - and the harmful bacteria, viruses and chemicals it contains - from being dumped into our seas.
Read the Clean Water Now report.
Credit: Billy Barraclough
2026 is a make-or-break year
The legal deadline for the Government to meet its water quality targets under the Water Framework Directive Regulations is 2027 – it will fail because of years of inaction.
The Water Reform Bill is a once –in-a-generation opportunity to finally clean up our seas. The UK Government must not limit ambition to cosmetic reform or focus simply on growth and investment in the water sector - they must remember why water reform is on the agenda in the first place. The environment cannot stand pollution any longer and the public will not tolerate it.
Public awareness and anger at the treatment of our waters has never been higher. In the run up to the election, 94% of the British public expressed support for action for healthy rivers by 2030, with almost half saying that their voting decision would be influenced by commitments for cleaner waters. The public want Clean Water Now, and our seas can't wait any longer.
"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stop pollution and improve water quality to help England's rivers and seas.
Sandy Luk, Chief Executive
What you can do
