Water quality 'is improving'

Water quality throughout the UK is improving, according to the Environment Agency.

Ian Barker, head of water at the Environment Agency, explained that the reduction in pollution over the course of the last decade had been so great some species of wildlife have been boosted.

The water vole is one animal which has been singled out, having been on the brink of extinction a few years ago due to the poor water quality it was forced to live in.

"Rivers in England and Wales are at their healthiest for over a century, with otters, salmon and other wildlife returning to many rivers in record numbers in locations across the country," commented Mr Barker.

But he added that more needs to be done to keep water quality up, with pollution from roads and fields targeted as areas for improvement.

East Lothian Courier recently reported that a spillage of diesel by food producer Monaghan Mushrooms has led to concerns about the water quality of the Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve being damaged.

Posted by Joseph Hutton