Seven water indicators to be tracked under 25 Year Environment Plan

The Government has published the Outcome Indicator Framework that will be used to assess progress towards the green goals set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.

The Framework contains 66 indicators, arranged into ten broad themes, one of which is water. 

There are seven indicators within the water section, some of which are interim and some final:

• B1: Pollution loads entering waters (interim)

• B2: Serious pollution incidents to water (final)

• B3: State of the water environment (interim)

• B4: Condition of bathing waters (final) 

• B5: Water bodies achieving sustainable abstraction criteria (final)

• B6: Natural functions of water and wetland ecosystems (interim)

• B7: Health of freshwaters assessed through fish populations (interim)

The indicators show the condition of the natural assets in question, the pressures on them and the provision of services or benefits they provide.