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| Welsh Water dumped 56,000 cubic metres of sewage in river | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Campaigners said waste equivalent to 17 tankers a day was dumped into a Pembrokeshire river | Campaigners said waste equivalent to 17 tankers a day was dumped into a Pembrokeshire river |
| Almost 56,000 cubic metres of sewage was dumped in a river in 2023, according to campaigners. | |
| The Cleddau Project said Welsh Water data showed pumps at Picton in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, were running at 80% capacity from July 2022 to February 2024. | The Cleddau Project said Welsh Water data showed pumps at Picton in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, were running at 80% capacity from July 2022 to February 2024. |
| That meant the equivalent of 17 tankers a day, which should have been going to a sewage treatment plant, was instead going into special conservation area the Western Cleddau. | |
| Welsh Water apologised and said its Picton pumping station had been upgraded and spills cut. | Welsh Water apologised and said its Picton pumping station had been upgraded and spills cut. |
| Ric Cooper said a pipe was "spilling what looked like raw sewage more often than we'd ever seen in the past" | Ric Cooper said a pipe was "spilling what looked like raw sewage more often than we'd ever seen in the past" |
| But it admitted there could be problems at other sites across Wales. | But it admitted there could be problems at other sites across Wales. |
| The Cleddau Project's Ric Cooper said campaigners investigated because an overflow pipe at Picton playing fields appeared to be spilling more raw sewage than usual. | The Cleddau Project's Ric Cooper said campaigners investigated because an overflow pipe at Picton playing fields appeared to be spilling more raw sewage than usual. |
| The group asked Welsh Water for pump performance data from the nearby pumping station. | The group asked Welsh Water for pump performance data from the nearby pumping station. |
| They are, according to Mr Cooper, supposed to pump at 120 litres a second but had only been operating at "95 or 96". | They are, according to Mr Cooper, supposed to pump at 120 litres a second but had only been operating at "95 or 96". |
| "That means 20% of what should have gone for treatment was going straight into the river," he said. | "That means 20% of what should have gone for treatment was going straight into the river," he said. |
| "We calculated over 12 months, and it averages out as 17 tankers a day emptying into this river. | "We calculated over 12 months, and it averages out as 17 tankers a day emptying into this river. |
| "You can imagine the outcry if on 17 occasions, a tanker pulled up and let it all go." | "You can imagine the outcry if on 17 occasions, a tanker pulled up and let it all go." |
| Welsh Water data showed the overflow pipe at Picton in 2023 discharged 133 times for almost 647 hours. | Welsh Water data showed the overflow pipe at Picton in 2023 discharged 133 times for almost 647 hours. |
| The Cleddau Project said it found high levels of ammonia in the water and that tests showed sewage was being discharged at levels toxic to fish. | The Cleddau Project said it found high levels of ammonia in the water and that tests showed sewage was being discharged at levels toxic to fish. |
| The group said it was reported to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) several times, which investigated in June 2023, almost a year later. | The group said it was reported to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) several times, which investigated in June 2023, almost a year later. |
| The Cleddau Project said pumps at Picton pumping station, in Haverfordwest, were operating at just 80% capacity for 18 months | The Cleddau Project said pumps at Picton pumping station, in Haverfordwest, were operating at just 80% capacity for 18 months |
| The Cleddau Project said it took another nine months before the pumps were up to speed. | The Cleddau Project said it took another nine months before the pumps were up to speed. |
| Another campaigner, Simon Walters, said the spills would affect sewin and salmon movements. | Another campaigner, Simon Walters, said the spills would affect sewin and salmon movements. |
| He added that E. coli levels were "way" above that permitted for safe bathing. | He added that E. coli levels were "way" above that permitted for safe bathing. |
| He said: "We used to swim in here as kids. I wouldn't let my dog swim in here now." | He said: "We used to swim in here as kids. I wouldn't let my dog swim in here now." |
| NRW and Welsh Water bosses, he believed, needed to resolve the matter. | NRW and Welsh Water bosses, he believed, needed to resolve the matter. |
| Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell, who met the Cleddau Project members, Welsh Water and NRW last week, called the pollution "not acceptable". | Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell, who met the Cleddau Project members, Welsh Water and NRW last week, called the pollution "not acceptable". |
| Simon Walters said the area was a special area of conservation and should be protected | Simon Walters said the area was a special area of conservation and should be protected |
| NRW needed more resources, he believed, as it was investigating only 20% of alleged breaches reported. | NRW needed more resources, he believed, as it was investigating only 20% of alleged breaches reported. |
| He said the UK government was taking "definitive action" on tackling pollution with a bill which would give increased powers to regulators to tackle polluting companies. | He said the UK government was taking "definitive action" on tackling pollution with a bill which would give increased powers to regulators to tackle polluting companies. |
| In July, Ofwat confirmed it had served formal notices and opened an enforcement case against Welsh Water and three other companies into how they managed waste water treatment works and networks. | In July, Ofwat confirmed it had served formal notices and opened an enforcement case against Welsh Water and three other companies into how they managed waste water treatment works and networks. |
| Welsh Water "apologised" for any damage to the Western Cleddau. | Welsh Water "apologised" for any damage to the Western Cleddau. |
| Waste water chief Steve Wilson said the equipment monitor flow on the Picton overflow pipe had been fitted before the deadline of regulator NRW. | Waste water chief Steve Wilson said the equipment monitor flow on the Picton overflow pipe had been fitted before the deadline of regulator NRW. |
| "To upgrade that pumping station, we had to install new pumps and a new panel, which actually took 26 weeks to be built," he added. | "To upgrade that pumping station, we had to install new pumps and a new panel, which actually took 26 weeks to be built," he added. |
| The Cleddau Project said data showed a storm overflow pipe at Picton playing fields discharged 133 times in 2023 | The Cleddau Project said data showed a storm overflow pipe at Picton playing fields discharged 133 times in 2023 |
| It was now operating correctly, he said. | It was now operating correctly, he said. |
| Mr Wilson said the company was upgrading sites in Wales as fast as possible to improve water quality. | Mr Wilson said the company was upgrading sites in Wales as fast as possible to improve water quality. |
| The company, he said, planned to spend £4bn between 2025 and 2030, with £100m on improvement and maintenance in Pembrokeshire, subject to Ofwat approval. | The company, he said, planned to spend £4bn between 2025 and 2030, with £100m on improvement and maintenance in Pembrokeshire, subject to Ofwat approval. |
| NRW confirmed it was made aware of a problem in June 2023, and was told by Welsh Water new pumps would be installed by 31 October 2023. | NRW confirmed it was made aware of a problem in June 2023, and was told by Welsh Water new pumps would be installed by 31 October 2023. |
| It said the deadline was missed and Welsh Water were given a formal warning. | It said the deadline was missed and Welsh Water were given a formal warning. |
| The work to repair the pumps was completed in February 2024, it said. | The work to repair the pumps was completed in February 2024, it said. |
| NRW said the pumping station was "subject to a formal legal investigation for another matter". | NRW said the pumping station was "subject to a formal legal investigation for another matter". |