CHALK streams in Hampshire are failing to meet the required “good ecological status”, a report has warned.

The report from WWF-UK has revealed the health of more than three quarters of England’s unique chalk streams are in a shocking state.

It comes ten years after the Environment Agency set out its vision for chalk streams in the UK and stresses the need for the Government to take action before the effects are irreversible.

The chalk aquifer – the engine room of the chalk stream – makes up 70 per cent of the public drinking water supply in south east England and the report found that it is classed as in poor quantitative health, with phosphate and nitrates at levels that pose a risk to drinking water supplies.

Dr Rose O’Neill, water policy manager of WWF-UK and report author, said: “This report shows clearly that something urgently needs to be done to restore our chalk streams, starting from the top with clear Government leadership and fit-for-purpose regulation of abstraction, sewage and agricultural pollution.

“Chalk streams are a unique ecosystem and so we have a special responsibility to protect them. Yet 77 per cent of our chalk streams are not in good health and only 12 have protected status.

“Progress over the past ten years has lacked the pace, scale and urgency required.”

David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, said: “The majority of the world’s chalk streams are found in England, and are a quintessential part of the English countryside.

“They are havens for wildlife such as otters, water voles and mayfly. The threats they face are significant: over-abstraction, pollution from industry, agriculture and households and poor management.

“However, there is an opportunity to reverse the damage being done to these unique places, which we have set out in our Manifesto for Chalk Streams.

“We hope that whichever party leads the next Government, they put protection of our water environment on the agenda and bring forward action to restore the health of our chalk streams.”