Government to weaken water pollution goals in ‘attack on nature’

An area of coastland next to where raw sewage had been reportedly discharged after heavy rain in August in Seaford, England. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Water pollution goals are to be weakened by the government next week, the Guardian can reveal, as Environment Act targets will give farmers three extra years to reduce their waste dumping into waterways.

River campaigners have said the news is proof the government has not dropped its “attack on nature”.