*"Good or better" status means that the body of water is close to undisturbed conditions. The source adds that the failure of one test means that the whole body of water fails to obtain good or better status.
**Planned improvements
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Surface water bodies at good or better status in the United Kingdom (UK) 2016-2021
This statistic displays the percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016, and planned improvements by 2021. During this time period, coastline water quality had the highest share of good or better ecological status at 45 percent. This is planned to improve to 53 percent by 2021.
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GOV.UK, & Environment Agency. (February 22, 2018). Percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016 and 2021, by type [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 26, 2026, from /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/
GOV.UK, und Environment Agency. "Percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016 and 2021, by type." Chart. February 22, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 26, 2026. /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/
GOV.UK, Environment Agency. (2018). Percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016 and 2021, by type. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 26, 2026. /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/
GOV.UK, and Environment Agency. "Percentage of Surface Water Bodies at Good or Better Ecological Status in The United Kingdom (Uk) in 2016 and 2021, by Type." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 22 Feb 2018, /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/
GOV.UK & Environment Agency, Percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016 and 2021, by type ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited July 26, 2026)
Percentage of surface water bodies at good or better ecological status in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016 and 2021, by type [Graph], GOV.UK, & Environment Agency, February 22, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/820379/surface-water-body-status-united-kingdom-uk/
