Harmonized surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that also includes all potentially important environmental compartments is of major importance for tackling future challenges by supporting the reduction of AMR spreading over ecosystem boundaries. Even though numerous monitoring campaigns have investigated antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in different natural and engineered environments, systematically collected data on their background concentrations in the environment are scarce. The aim of the presented study was to systematically determine the background contamination of soil, wastewater and surface waters with ARGs in Austria. Preliminary results of our comprehensive spatial & temporal monitoring already showed distinct patterns of ARGs and antibiotic concentrations in the different sample types investigated and could successfully profile their resistome. ARG profiling by high-throughput analysis (Resistomap) showed presence of 66/71 investigated genes in the first set of selected water samples. Investigated genes detected most frequently were integrons, followed by aminoglycosides and mobile genetic elements (MGE); detected least frequently were the taxonomic gene for enterococci and genes encoding vancomycin resistance. Quantification of seven ARGs (sul1, ermB, vanA, aph(3’)-IIa, aph(3’)-IIIa, tet(W), blaTEM-1) in different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by qPCR showed very similar concentrations for influent samples in the same order of magnitude while they displayed somewhat higher variations for most ARGs in the effluents. Removal rates for most ARGs were in the range of 2 – 3 log steps, for ermB: 3 – 4 log steps. The results of the surface water samples were distributed over a wide range (partially up 5 log steps) due to the selection of the sites along a load gradient. In surface waters, detection rates and concentrations were mostly much lower than in WWTPs with sul1 and ermB detected most frequently and with the highest average concentrations (< 10^3 copies/ml). Temporal monitoring of wastewater influents and effluents generally showed only minor variations (within 1 log) over the course of one year, with some exceptions (for WWTP6: blaTEM-1 in influents and ermB in effluents). Interestingly, in contrast to effluent and environmental samples, the concentrations of ermB in WWTP influent samples were higher than those of sul1. Preliminary results from the investigations of ARGs in soil (by Resistomap & qPCR) revealed specific patterns according to soil type (agricultural, pristine, urban) and also impressively showed influence of fertilization on ARG soil profiles over time. ARG analysis is currently ongoing and results of the final sample set as well as of further ARGs will be presented at the conference. The final results of the presented project will help to identify environmental hot spots of AMR and to reduce the risk of transferring AMR from the environment to human and animal pathogens in line with the One Health approach. Furthermore, the findings will provide the basis for evidence-based advice to risk managers and possible routine ARG monitoring of the ecosystems studied in the future.