Written question WQ88007
- Asked by
- Huw Irranca-DaviesLabour
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What assessment has the Minister made of the effects on water quality of the reported 3,375 sewage releases equating to 34,818 hours duration, averaging 9.2 sewage releases each day on 44 discharge sites in the Llynfi, Garw, Ogmore and Ewenny rivers in 2022 as reported in Top of the Poops?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
Natural Resources Wales is responsible for assessing water quality in accordance with legislative drivers such as the Water Environment (Water Framework) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017. The latest classification for Wales’ water bodies can be found here Water Watch Wales (naturalresourceswales.gov.uk).
Of the four rivers you mention, sewage is not identified as a reason for failing to meet good ecological status.
Our Programme for Government commits us to strengthen water quality monitoring. The action plan issued in July 2022 sets out how we will improve the regulation and performance of wastewater assets, in particular storm overflows and will increase our understanding of the impact of storm overflows.
https://www.gov.wales/environmental-regulation-overflows-action-plan-html#100072
I am aware of the “Top of the Poops” (TOTP) website which is run in collaboration with the pressure group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). It is a matter for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to provide an assessment as to the reliability of the figures reported for each of the rivers you have listed and to report any impacts upon the water quality.