A NEW way of measuring the quality of England's waterways is being developed to ensure their long-term health.

Present standards - which show how well fish breathe and eat - show there has been little change since last year.

Water quality on the River Severn in Worcestershire and the lower reaches of the River Teme has been good since 1995.

It had previously been rated fairly good and the improvement is chiefly due to a reduction in sewage and industrial discharge.

In the River Teme, which is rated "good" or "very good" throughout the whole of its length under the present system, nitrate content is moderate, but the level of phosphate is still very high.

Risk

Under the new standards it will be considered at risk from agricultural pesticides, nutrients and sediments.

Measures are being taken to remove nutrients at three sewage works this year and seven more over the next five years.

The Environment Agency is also working in partnership with farmers and others to reduce the risk of pollution washed off from land.

Thirteen Countryside Stewardship Schemes have been introduced on the River Teme and 11 on the River Avon to help improve the quality of Worcestershire rivers in the long term.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs schemes include steps such as leaving grass margins along the edge of arable fields, allowing arable land to revert to grass and managing grassland without fertilisers or pesticides.

These measures reduce soil erosion and pollution from chemicals leaching into the water.

In addition, coppicing of trees allows light onto the banks, letting vegetation flourish and reducing erosion of the riverbank.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said the new standards required under the Water Framework Directive would not only show how well fish breathe and eat but also how well they are able to reproduce and the overall quality of their habitat.

"They will also show whether our water courses contain the right balance of fish species, aquatic plants and invertebrates," he said.