THE River Lea has failed to meet top cleanliness standards under European guidelines, despite rivers around the UK being the cleanest for a century, an Environment Agency report says.

The European Water Framework Directive, which became law in the UK in 2003, sets higher standards, using more than 30 measures.

The report grades rivers from A (very good) to F (bad) on whether they have thriving ecosystems and how polluted they are.

It also gives grades from one (low levels) to six (high levels) based on the presence of nitrates and phosphates in the water, which can be damaging to the environment.

In 2008, parts of the Lea in Waltham Forest scored as low as grade E and grade 6, meaning the river is among three-quarters of waterways in England and Wales that scored poorly.

Pollution from farming and poor town planning have both been cited as causes.

Only just over a quarter of rivers in England and Wales are deemed 'good' overall and from a total of 6,000 surveyed, just five, in remote areas of Wales and northern England, meet the highest standards.

But the Environment Agency has announced plans to improve stretches of river by 2015 and the report also says water quality has actually improved for the 19th year consecutively.

Plans for improvements include addressing discharge from sewage works, limiting water removal from rivers, and stopping pollution from farmland and built-up areas leaking into rivers.

Results show that seven out of 10 English rivers and nine out of 10 Welsh rivers did achieve what is termed 'very good' or 'good' grades in terms of chemical and biological water quality in 2008.

The Agency claims tougher action on polluters, changes in farming practices, investment by water companies, and local clean-up projects have helped make the improvements.

A total of 117 rivers are classified as 'bad' leading to claims they are among the worst in Europe.

RSPB director of conservation Mark Avery welcomed millions of pounds of investment by the water industry but said the report should be a wake-up call to the Government.

He said: "Otters, water voles, kingfishers and more than 30 species of fish all rely on our rivers and we have a responsibility to keep them healthy and clean."

World Wildlife Fund freshwater policy advisor Tom Le Quesne added: "We are heavily reliant on this precious resource, and our legislation and actions must deliver a positive improvement to its state."

Environment Agency chief executive Dr Paul Leinster has said 9,000 miles of river will be cleaned up in the next five years.

The plans will be finalised later this year after Government approval.

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