More than half Northern Ireland's lakes have failed the grade on water quality in what’s been dubbed an “environmental travesty”.
Yesterday the government revealed just one of our 21 lakes was classed as "good" - down from five in 2018.
Seven were rated “poor” and four were “bad”.
Green Party leader Clare Bailey accused the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) of "overseeing a public health and environmental disaster" spurred by intensive farming.
In the report the researchers acknowledge a "significant decline" in NI's lakes since data was last released in 2018.
In five years of monitoring none were found to have high water quality.
The South Belfast MLA added: "[It's] a damning indictment of our government's destructive approach to human health and environmental protection but not an unexpected one.
"Government policy, particularly in relation to agriculture, environment and economy, has created a situation where our air, water, food and land are heavily poisoned."
James Orr, NI director of Friends of the Earth, said DAERA was "complicit" in plunging NI into a "state of profound ecological crisis".
Government reports have revealed ammonia pollution in our most vulnerable environments - exceeding critical levels in 98 percent of conservation areas.
Mr Orr said government policies like the agri-food 'Going for Growth' programme had "unleashed" industrial pollution into waterways.
He added: "This report tells us that the government agencies that are supposed to be looking out for our water are actually responsible for polluting them.
"Phosphate and ammonia pollution levels are at critical levels and this was entirely predictable because of the unchecked pollution that comes from the expansion of these mega industrial farm units.
"Despite the fact that this pollution was inevitable the department has taken no action - in fact it's complicit."
A DAERA spokesman said the deterioration was "not unexpected" after tests on NI rivers in 2018 showed increased levels of phosphorus.
He added: "DAERA takes the issue of water quality very seriously, and already has a number of measures in place to tackle the issue, including the Environmental Farming Scheme.
"It is encouraging to see so many farmers participating to help protect and enhance the natural environment.
"This is complimented by working closely with NI Water in the regulation of their activities in managing and treating waste-water, to ensure high standards of environmental protection and compliance."
Asked how heightened levels of pollution would affect conservation areas, he said: "These statistics are based on assessments required under Water Framework Directive.
