The chart below shows the percentage of river water in UK rivers that is classified as having good chemical quality between 1990 and 2002.

The given line graph illustrates the proportion of good chemical

water

in 4 parts of the UK (

Wales

,

Scotland

, Northern

Ireland

and

England

) from 1990 to 2002.

Overall

, what stands out from the graph is that

rivers

in

Wales

and

Scotland

demonstrated a higher percentage of good

quality

water

than

rivers

in two other parts. The

figures

for good

water

in

Wales

and

Scotland

remained stable for most of the period,

while

in Northern

Ireland

and

England

fluctuated. Looking at the details, in 1990,

rivers

in

Wales

had the best chemical

quality

water

at nearly 97% followed by

rivers

in

Scotland

starting at 95%,

however

, the latter took the lead. In 1998, the

figures

had an opposite trend with the former declining to nearly 94% in 2002,

while

the latter rose to 97% in 2000 and remained stable until 2002.

In contrast

, the starting

figures

for the

quality

of

water

in

rivers

in Northern

Ireland

and

England

were 92% and 83% respectively. From 1992 to 1994, the percentage of

rivers

in Northern

Ireland

significantly increased outnumbering the

quality

of

rivers

in

Scotland

at around 96%,

however

, it declined to the lowest point at 83%. The

figures

for the

quality

of

rivers

in

England

and Northern

Ireland

rose to 90% and 97% respectively,

whereas

the latter took the lead in 2002, becoming the best

quality

of

water

in

rivers

.