Threats to 'English' Rivers?

Maintaining healthy rivers is a difficult process. Threats can impact on them, at any point, from their sources to the seas. Most rivers don't even stay within a single country. They may consequently be subject to different legislations. George Monbiot applaudes the fact that 'England's dying rivers' has become an election issue. Raw sewage release, by the privatised Water companies, has become the primary focus. Monbiot maintains, however, that raw sewage not even the main threat to 'English' rivers (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/03/england-rivers-election-sewage-water-pollution). Rivers obviously arise in hills and mountains. These upland areas in the UK are, says Monbiot, grossly mismanaged. They're often burned, drained and overgrazed, which reduces their capacity for retaining (and slowly releasing) water. In flatter regions, a healthy river should be able meander and spread, interacting with adjoining wetlands. This further reduces the probability of flooding. These locations are, however, where most farming occurs. Monbiot maintains that, sometimes 'ignorant', farming practises have enormous impacts on riverine health. Many farmers (and England's Internal Drainage Boards?) seem to favour creating canal-like channels, to rapidly take water downstream. This increases flooding risk, downriver. Farming, also generally results in massive amounts of organic material and chemicals (insecticides and herbicides), making their ways into rivers. This has been especially evident in the case of the intensive poultry farms, located along the river Wye (on the English-Welsh border). This damages water quality and kills many riverine species. Most environmental instructions to English farmers are 'advisory' and rarely enforced. Monbiot also suggests that, relatively unregulated, building sites can also be blackspots for rivers. 'Forever chemicals' and other substances can be released, unmonitored, into rivers from such locations. More traditional pollution comes, of course, from industrial processes but this is generally better regulated. It seems that 'English' rivers are threatened all along their river banks. Most of these issues, however, apply to rivers all over the world. Really long rivers (like the Nile and the Ganges) have really big challenges.