The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has released a report highlighting issues with the current implementation of water quality regulations in England. This report evaluates if the government’s plans to improve England’s waters are adequate to achieve the goal of 77% of surface waters being in Good Ecological Status by 2027. It finds that the government and the Environment Agency are not on track to meet the Environmental Objectives under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Regulations by 2027. The worst-case scenario would result in only 21% of surface waters being in a Good Ecological State by 2027, a mere 5% improvement from the current situation. The report suggests challenges in implementing the regulations effectively, including insufficient investment, generic measures, and a lack of transparent governance. The OEP recommends taking urgent action for additional measures, updated economic analysis, and better public consultation to improve the effectiveness of the WFD Regulations.