Thousands of water tests for pollution in England's rivers, lakes, and estuaries were cancelled from May to July 2024 due to staff shortages at the Environment Agency (EA). The EA confirmed the cancellations, stating 10,000 scheduled tests at its Starcross laboratory were not conducted. Seven national inorganic testing programmes were completely "paused," impacting monitoring of chemical pollution and drought plans. The EA attributes the cuts to "fluctuations in staffing capacity," reporting 17.5% of inorganic testing was paused at Starcross and expecting 15% below capacity operation for the entire year.

Internal emails obtained by Greenpeace and Desmog revealed discussions among EA officials regarding the impact of staff departures on testing. Former EA employees cited low morale and insufficient pay rises as contributing factors to staffing problems, which have been ongoing since at least 2023. The cancelled tests cover inorganic pollutants like nitrates and phosphates, indicating sewage or agricultural pollution. Concerns were raised that this lack of testing impacts investigations into water pollution across the country, including areas such as the River Wye facing a pollution crisis.

The EA maintains its testing program "remains robust" and prioritizes testing based on need. However, critics, including campaigners and the Angling Trust, highlight the severity of water pollution and the importance of extensive testing. A new water regulator is being recommended, with the EA potentially losing its water pollution monitoring responsibilities. The EA spokesperson stated that water quality testing remains a priority and that they received an additional £8 million in funding.

Impact Statement: The significant reduction in water pollution tests raises concerns about the EA's ability to effectively monitor and protect water quality in England, potentially hindering efforts to address pollution issues and impacting environmental health.