Rivers’ recovery slowing down in past five years, research suggests

A study of invertebrates found rivers to be improving in health since the early 1990s but they are now being held back because of pollution.

Invertebrates that live on river beds are a good indicator of a rivers’ health, researchers said (Jacob King/PA) (PA Wire)

Sewage, agriculture, climate change, microplastics and pharmaceuticals appear to have slowed the biological recovery of rivers in England and Wales, new research suggests.

A study of invertebrates that live on river beds found their numbers had increased by nearly 10% from the early 1990s until 2018 for more pollution-sensitive species, but their recovery has since waned.

Researchers from Cardiff University analysed nearly 50,000 invertebrates collected from around 4,000 streams and rivers.