The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the River Wye has been in the headlines since 2020 as one of the UK’s most polluted rivers, and that phosphate pollution is especially severe in the Rivers Lugg, Arrow and Frome; further declares that the Environment Agency’s plan for reducing pollution levels in the river falls short of what is needed to fix the problem and restore the health of the river; and further declares that introducing a Water Protection Zone would formally identify all sources of pollution, specify who should do what and by when to reduce and prevent pollution, and restrict or ban certain polluting activities with penalties specified for polluters who fail to take the necessary action.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take further action to save the River Wye catchment, starting with formally evaluating the option of introducing a Water Protection Zone across the entire River Wye, as a mechanism to address phosphate pollution and restore the river.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dr Ellie Chowns, Official Report, 23 March 2026; Vol. 783, c. 113.]
[P003172]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy):
The Government recognise that the levels of water pollution in the River Wye and its tributaries, including the Rivers Lugg, Arrow and Frome, are unacceptable. We recognise the strength of feeling expressed by the petitioners regarding the health of the River Wye and its tributaries and thank them for raising these concerns.
The River Wye is one of the UK’s most important river systems, designated as a site of special scientific interest and a special area of conservation, reflecting its ecological value and the consequent need for careful, evidence-based management to protect and restore its habitats and species. The Government further recognise the value of the River Wye as a tourist attraction and important cultural and social asset for the people who live nearby.
Cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas is a priority for this Government, and we know that this cannot be achieved without addressing agricultural pollution. This ambition is reflected in the recently published environment improvement plan, which sets clear goals and targets to improve the quality of our environment, with delivery plans to meet each of our ambitious Environment Act targets. This includes an ambitious interim target to reduce total nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment losses from agriculture to the water environment by at least 12% by 2030, and by at least 18% in catchments containing protected sites in unfavourable condition due to nutrient pollution, such as the River Wye and its tributaries.
The Government are developing the strongest programme on record for tackling water pollution from agriculture by using all the levers available to us. These include:
Increasing regulatory compliance by doubling the funding to the Environment Agency farm inspections and regulatory enforcement team. This will enable them to conduct at least 6,000 inspections a year by 2029 and to work with farmers to raise standards, building on the 1,092 improvement actions issued over the last four years, covering practical improvements such as slurry storage and nutrient management planning.
Simplifying and strengthening regulations. Effective regulation is critical for addressing agricultural diffuse pollution and delivering our Environment Act target. As we announced in the water White Paper in January 2026, we will consolidate the agricultural water regulatory framework into a single, clear and robust regulation and strengthen standards where necessary. We will continue to work with farming and environment groups in developing those changes.
Providing high-quality advice to farmers. Catchment sensitive farming (CSF) is designed to address the specific needs of each farm, offering local expert advice, training, and grant support. Grants provide support for capital items that benefit water quality, such as fencing to prevent livestock from entering watercourses, and improving drainage systems to manage run-off more effectively.
Funding farmers to take action to reduce water pollution. Funding for environmental land management schemes will increase by 150% from £800 million in financial year 23/24 to £2 billion by financial year 28/29 and we are working actively to target this to help address water pollution, protect nature, and support thriving biodiversity across our landscapes. Further action being taken specifically targeted at the Wye Valley includes:
Delivery of the diffuse water pollution plan for the River Wye special area of conservation produced by the Environment Agency and Natural England. This sets out the evidence base, priorities and an action plan to address nutrient and sediment pressures, alongside ongoing monitoring, regulation and partnership delivery. To improve river health, they are working with local authorities, water companies, farmers and environmental groups.
Delivery of practical research into the causes of pollution in the catchment, and to identify effective measures to improve water quality. The UK and Welsh Governments recently appointed a consortium, led by UWE Bristol, which will deliver the £1 million research programme. The team will work alongside farmers, land managers and local communities to understand agricultural challenges impacting water quality in the River Wye catchment. They will identify and test the most effective, practical interventions to reduce agricultural pollution entering the River Wye, and to produce evidence that Governments and farmers can act on. Researchers at UWE Bristol will work directly with farmers through a series of living labs on real working farms where practical solutions to agricultural pollution can be developed and tested with the people who know the land best.
As part of our water reforms, the Government are also seeking to introduce regional water planning to galvanise action to tackle the most urgent challenges across the water system, such as water quality in the River Wye and its tributaries. Regional planning will aim to bring councils, water companies, farmers and developers together to deliver joined-up local plans to tackle river pollution and protect water supply. The Government recognise the importance of local communities ensuring that local needs and circumstances are taken into account in regional water planning. That is why we have doubled funding for catchment partnerships, to enable greater stakeholder engagement and the identification and delivery of cost-effective and nature-based solutions.
Our priority is to work with farmers, business people, environmental groups and other stakeholders in the Wye Valley to increase regulatory compliance under the existing regime, identify solutions and drive action to deliver them, which is key for water quality in the River Wye and its tributaries to be improved. We will keep this under review and if an application for a water protection zone order is made, this will be duly considered by the Secretary of State.