Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Designation of stretches of river as bathing waters will help to drive coordinated action to...
Conclusion
Designation of stretches of river as bathing waters will help to drive coordinated action to improve water quality: but achieving rivers safe to swim in is only one aspect of securing an overall improvement in water quality. Designation of bathing waters must therefore go hand in hand with further measures to preserve and improve riverine biodiversity. (Paragraph 72) Agricultural pollution
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees that minimum standards for mitigating water pollution from agriculture should evolve over time to improve water quality by reflecting best farming practice, technological innovation and the needs of consumers. The Government is already taking action to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory framework. Defra has issued guidance on the Farming Rules for Water to provide clarity on what is expected of farmers to make best use of organic manures to reduce nitrate, phosphorus and sediment pollution. The slurry infrastructure grant scheme, explained in more detail below, is a further key part of this package of measures.