The public demand Clean Water Now. It’s time the Clean Water Bill delivers.

13 May 2026

Today a new Clean Water Bill was declared in the King’s Speech. This Bill is make-or-break for England’s rivers, wetlands and coastlines, and action can’t wait any longer. The Government must seize this opportunity to show real leadership by delivering a Bill bold enough to restore public trust and ambitious enough to protect nature for future generations.

Wildlife and Countryside Link, the largest environmental coalition in England, and the creator of the Clean Water Now campaign, says the Government must now move urgently to deliver meaningful changes.

Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, says:
“The announcement of a Clean Water Bill is a now-or-never moment to fix our broken water system. People want to see real change that restores rivers and seas, strengthens regulation, and hold polluters firmly to account. The Government has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn things around – and it must act urgently. Healthy waters are not a luxury; they are places where people swim, paddle, walk, fish, and connect with nature.

“Simply setting up a new regulator won’t do the job – we need a system-wide transformation. The Bill must tackle agricultural and chemical pollution at the same time as ending sewage pollution.

“Until meaningful changes are implemented, both people and wildlife will continue to suffer. The public demand Clean Water Now. It’s time the Clean Water Bill delivers.”

Over 35,000 emails demanding Clean Water Now have already been sent to MPs by members of the public. Read more here: Clean Water Can’t Wait.