Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Contamination from wastewater and sewage significantly increases AMR pathogen levels in waterways.
Conclusion
Wastewater is water that has been affected by domestic, commercial or industrial activities, as well as agricultural run-off and hospital waste.96 Sewage is wastewater that contains human waste. Sewage discharges are the release of raw, untreated sewage into waterways such as rivers.97 Metals, biocides, pesticides, and antimicrobial residues can build up and have a significant impact on the environment.98 There are increased levels of AMR pathogens in waterways that have been contaminated with wastewater or sewage.99 92 C&AG’s Report, para 2.26 93 Q 17, C&AG’s Report, paras 13, 2.27 94 Qq 17, 90; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.28, 2.29 95 Q 90; C&AG’s Report, para 2.29 96 AR0003, AR0015 97 House of Commons Library, Sewage Discharges, 24 May 2024 98 C&AG’s Report, para 3.16 99 Q 25; National Engineering Policy Centre, Testing the waters: reducing health risks from water pollution, May 2024 20
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 18 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗