Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Launch a public inquiry into the state of England's rivers
Closed
145 signatures
What the petition asks
The Environment Agency found that only 14% of Britain's rivers are in good ecological condition and none met the criteria for achieving ‘good chemical status’. Campaigners have declared some rivers to be 'ecologically dead'.
A Public Inquiry must be launched to assess the problem, investigate those responsible and find a way forward.
Water companies discharged 2.4 million hours of untreated sewage into our rivers in a single year, with 389,000 discharges in 2022 alone. Agricultural chemical runoff and plastic pollution have added to this problem, leading to a pollution that's killing our rivers.
Water companies discharged 2.4 million hours of untreated sewage into our rivers in a single year, with 389,000 discharges in 2022 alone. Agricultural chemical runoff and plastic pollution have added to this problem, leading to a pollution that's killing our rivers.
Timeline
| 5 Jun 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 5 Dec 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
145
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
5 Jun 2023
Closed
5 Dec 2023
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.