Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Paragraph: 54
We have heard disturbing evidence that sewage treatment works and the rivers that they discharge...
Conclusion
We have heard disturbing evidence that sewage treatment works and the rivers that they discharge into are becoming breeding grounds for antimicrobial resistance. There will need to be cross-sector collaboration to reduce the growth of antimicrobial resistance genes in rivers. Following the work streams of the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment programme on antimicrobial resistance, we 120 Water quality in rivers recommend that the Government bring together farming groups and water companies to decide on a programme of action to reduce opportunities for resistance to develop in the water environment.
Paragraph Reference:
54
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
improved. The Government is already working closely with the Environment Agency, the Storm Overflows Taskforce and the water industry on relevant proposals to enable this and ensure accountability. Water companies have committed to bring forward full event duration monitoring by 2023. The Environment Act also introduced a duty for water companies to monitor the water quality up and downstream from their assets and we will be bringing forward more detail on this in due course.