Thank you for contacting me about pollution in rivers.
I appreciate the depth of your concern about this issue. I am assured that the Environment Agency (EA) has been working with water companies on chemicals investigations which have included a range of pharmaceuticals discharges from in-treated sewage effluent. I am aware that the EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System for chemicals of emerging concern to ensure consideration of the potential risks of emerging chemicals including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater and soils.
Further, this system allows the EA to sift and screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England.
Finally, I understand that the Government has been working with the pharmaceutical industry, research institutes and across Government to set up a working group on pharmaceuticals. This will drive work forward, identifying evidence gaps, filling them where possible, and forming evidence-based policy.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.