Recommendation 39

Storm overflow valves are designed to release water from the sewer network into watercourses and the sea when the volume of water is too high for the system.100 In 2016, 862 storm overflow sites were monitored for spills of untreated sewage, and they averaged 15 spill events each in the year. By 2023 this had increased to an average 33 spill events from the 14,000 storm overflows then being monitored. The increasing incidence of untreated wastewater and sewage entering the aquatic environment through storm overflows is likely to be exacerbating AMR.101 DHSC acknowledged that the treatment and reduction of wastewater and sewage entering waterways is fundamental to reducing resistant infections.102 This point was also made to us in a number of submissions to the Committee, reinforcing the fact that this is a serious public health concern.103