Explained in plain English
Why the 77% target?
The government's ambitious target of 77% of rivers reaching 'good status' by 2027 comes from the Water Framework Directive. This is a European Union law, which the UK adopted, aiming to protect and improve water quality across the continent. Even after Brexit, the UK has kept these targets as part of its own environmental laws.
Stories that explain this
Only one in seven English rivers rated healthyThis explainer came from a news story
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