Defra launches project to boost UK water quality

A major £110 million initiative is set to go ahead in an attempt to boost the water quality of lakes and rivers across the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), alongside other organisations such as the Environment Agency, will work to improve the conditions of several waterways.

It is hoped that the initial scheme will catalyse a £600 million revamp of more than 880 rivers and lakes.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman said that overall water quality across the UK "has come on leaps and bounds" in the past few years, but insisted more still needs to be done.

"Our new grass-roots approach to boosting healthier waterways and flourishing wildlife has local experience and knowledge at its heart," she remarked.

This week, the Environment Agency announced it was going to work on improving waterways in the north-east, after poor water monitoring results were recorded in catchments of the River Tees and Tyne.

Posted by Lauren Steadman