Statement by the PDNPA into the Pharmaceutical Pollution of the English National Parks report

Phil Mulligan, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority said: "It is shocking to see these levels of pollution in our national park, and others.

"As landscapes with the highest levels of protection, the safety of our ecosystems and people should be of the utmost importance.

"This is a complex issue and we welcome recommendations that the government, local authorities and the water industry work together to improve monitoring; for further investment in treatment technologies and to learn more about the potential impact of pharmaceuticals on the health of our ecosystems.

"With the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 there is a new duty on water companies to further the purposes of national parks, so we now expect the necessary investment to be forthcoming to ensure improvements not only in traditional water treatments, but in nature-based solutions. These solutions – including peatland restoration and river buffer zones - can play a key role in improving water quality, flood management and mitigation of climate change."