All rivers and lakes in England fail chemical quality standards; restoration to take nearly 40 years

All rivers and lakes in England fail chemical quality standards due to hazardous pollutants, the Environment Agency reported, with none passing inspection. The assessment covered persistent contaminants including microplastics. Officials said water bodies fail when chemical concentrations exceed legal limits. According to forecasts, English waters may reach required ecological standards only by 2063. The Guardian reported the findings. The timeline implies nearly four decades of restoration efforts needed to reduce pollutant levels to safe concentrations.