Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 128
The sewage sludge currently spread on agricultural land contains microplastics which have been caught in...
Recommendation
The sewage sludge currently spread on agricultural land contains microplastics which have been caught in the wastewater treatment process. It may also contain e-coli, antibiotics, biocides, persistent chemical pollutants and pharmaceuticals. This practice appears to be the principal means of disposal of biosolids from such processes. If it is to continue, a means must be found to ensure that the microplastics 122 Water quality in rivers which find their way in to waste water are disposed of safely and not spread over food-growing farmland thereby polluting productive soils. The Government should commission an independent evaluation of the potential risks to human health and the environment of spreading sewage sludge, with all the pollutants it contains, on farmland.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government is exploring the best way to make data generated by the Environment Act duties available to the public. Ofwat agrees that reporting needs to be suitably detailed, accessible and transparent to all, and note companies have existing obligations in relation to environmental information under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
128
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
The chemical complexity of incoming sewage has changed in recent years, and work is already underway to improve our understanding of the emerging risks. The ‘UK Water Industry Research Source to Sea’ microplastics study has provided valuable insight. The current water industry Chemical Investigations Programme report, due April 2022, will provide additional evidence, and we will be extending sludge investigations into chemicals and microplastics as part of the next round of water industry investment (following the next water industry Price Review). The Government is working with the Environment Agency on developing policies to ensure safe and sustainable sludge use by farmers and other businesses. This includes publication by the Environment Agency of its strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use. We are considering options for modernising the regulatory framework used to manage the risk of sewage sludge use on agricultural land, such as permitting. We are aware of the need to continue to monitor and address the risks posed by chemicals, microplastics and antimicrobial resistance in treated sludge which is spread to land.
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