Pretty quiet but I hear of a fish from Whitney today on a plug- further details to follow.

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Below are two letters which have probably as much relevance as they do to the Wye though as you see this initially refers to the |Usk.

I shows just how pathetic and dangerous welsh Water are in dealing with our sewage. seems that if you discover a sewage outfall dispensing its muck into the river the way to deal with it is to get it licensed.

Read it for yourself and despair;

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David Davies  MP 

Good afternoon all

 

I apologise for the group email but I have received a large volume of correspondence in relation to the sewage discharge in the River Usk and thought this would be the quickest way of keeping you updated on the action I have been taking.

 

As you will be aware, an incident was reported of sewage discharging into the River Usk from an emergency overflow (EO) for a pumping station serving the main sewage network for Usk town.  I was first made aware of this incident at the start of 2021 and subsequently raised it with officials at Natural Resources Wales (NRW). I was very concerned to receive information from NRW advising no discharge permit was in place for this site. However, I was informed that visits would be undertaken and a full investigation would be launched. 

 

Following the BBC Panorama programme, I contacted NRW immediately to request an urgent update of the situation – a copy of the reply is attached for your information. I’m told a formal warning was issued to Welsh Water alongside advice to submit a permit application as soon as possible. However, the investigation remains ongoing and NRW is still considering its enforcement response.

 

It is right that the River Usk is enjoyed by all in the community, including wild swimmers, and I share your concerns about this incident. I have therefore written to the Chief Executive of Welsh Water to ask if he can provide me with an update of the action being taken to find a long-term solution to prevent this from happening again in the future.

 

A copy of my letter is attached for your information and I shall be in touch as soon as I receive a reply.

 

Regards David Davies

 

May 2021

Dear David,

 

Re: Brief following the BBC Panorama documentary on Spills from Storm Overflows

 

Further to our recent telephone conversation regarding sewage and the impact of storm overflows, please find below our respose:

 

Background

 

Most of the sewer pipes in Wales are ‘combined sewers’. These usually combine both wastewater from our homes and businesses (toilets, sinks, showers, baths etc.) and clean rainwater from roads, hardstanding areas and roofs.

 

Wales has approximately 38,000 kilometres of sewers, where clean rainwater and wastewater are carried in the same pipe to a sewage treatment works.

 

During heavy rainfall the capacity of these pipes can be exceeded, which means possible flooding of sewage works affecting the treatment process, and the potential to back up and flood peoples’ homes, businesses, roads and open spaces, unless it is allowed to spill elsewhere. This is why storm overflows (also known as Combined Sewer Overflows - CSOs) were developed to act as overflow valves to reduce the risk of sewage backing up during heavy rainfall.

 

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issue permits for storm overflows which require water companies to ensure they only discharge during heavy rainfall (when the sewage is significantly diluted and when receiving waters are in high flow), when the sewer pipe capacity has been exceeded. Most permits also require that the sewage is screened prior to discharge to prevent sanitary wastes entering the environment.

 

Overflows of diluted sewage during heavy rainfall are not a sign that the system is faulty. Storm overflows are a necessary part of the existing sewerage system, preventing sewage from flooding homes and businesses.

 

 

 

 

Ffordd Hadnock ·   Trefynwy   ·   Sir Fynwy   ·   NP25 3NQ Hadnock Road · Monmouth · Monmouthshire · NP25 3NQ

Unfortunately discharges do sometimes occur in dry weather as a result of sewer blockages, where the pipe is blocked and causes sewage to back up and spill from a CSO. As the discharge would not be diluted with rainwater it can cause an environmental impact which NRW will investigate.

 

Blockages most often occur when household items are flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink, such as cleaning wipes, sanitary products and cooking fats and oils. Water companies run campaigns to raise awareness, such as DCWW’s ‘Stop the Block’ campaign, but many damaging items still find their way into the sewer.

 

Our strategy Regulation

For the two water companies in Wales, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) and Hafren Dyfrdwy, NRW has issued more than two thousand environmental permits in relation to storm overflows (see table below). We are working through a programme of permitting a further 193 storm overflows that DCWW have identified as operating without permits. It is a requirement that all storm overflows comply with relevant design and water quality standards and cause no deterioration to the existing quality of the receiving water.

 

Summary of storm overflow Permits (August 2020)

	Network	Sewage Pumping Station	Sewage Treatment Works	Total
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water	1165	467	360	1992
Hafren Dyfrdwy	17	13	24	54
Total	1182	480	384	2046

 

Currently, there is a presumption against permitting new storm overflows, unless as part of a wider scheme delivering a net improvement in water quality.

 

When a permitted overflow causes an incident, we carry out a compliance assessment against the permit and complete a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR). In total in 2019, NRW issued DCWW with 11 CARs for non-compliant storm overflows. In total we issued six warnings to DCWW due to storm overflow permit non-compliances, as well as providing advice and guidance and requiring actions to be undertaken. Often, CSO discharges caused by third party actions (see blockages detailed above) are not attributed to the water companies as there is a statutory defence under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

 

Water Company investment programmes are planned in advance on a rolling five year programme. These Asset Management Plans (AMPs) are jointly agreed between NRW, the Water Companies and the Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT) to maximise the environmental improvements from the limited funds available from the paying customers. To the frustration of ourselves and the water companies, this often leaves

many schemes unfunded despite there being environmental drivers for their inclusion. Increased funding is something that NRW has long asked for, but the protection of customer’s bills is a significant limiting factor in this process, and is controlled by OFWAT.

 

Monitoring

 

Since 2012 NRW has overseen the water company programmes to install monitoring at overflows across Wales, called Event Duration Monitoring (EDM). At the end of March 2020 DCWW had installed EDM on almost all their overflows. Hafren Dyfrdwy aim to complete their programme by 2024. Both water companies are required to provide a summary of spill data from their monitors to NRW on an annual basis. In 2020, DCWW reported 104,482 spills and Hafren Dyfrdwy reported 1,269 spills. We do not currently require companies to report the raw data.

 

Our approach

 

Over the next 5 years the data collected via EDM is informing development of a DCWW programme of targeted investment of over £30 million aimed at reducing environmental impacts from assets identified as ‘high’ spillers (>40 annual spills) on inland waters where it is cost beneficial do so.

 

We are working closely with DCWW in their application of the Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF) to ensure the programme is aligned with the principles of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR), for example ensuring the consideration of nature-based solutions that deliver wider benefits such as sustainable drainage. We expect the SOAF programme to remain a priority for investment in the future as we gain a better understanding of the evidence base provided by EDM.

 

 

Mill Lane CSO, Usk

 

As you will be aware based on our previous correspondence this incident was reported to us in January 2021 and we have been investigating it since. We have also recorded a number of other incidents at this location.

 

We have found that this asset is unpermitted and consequently NRW issued a warning to DCWW in February 2021 and advised that a permit application was required as soon as possible. Further investigations are ongoing and we are are liaising with DCWW to identfy the root cause of the issue. We are aware that the asset will require improvement to bring it up to required standards and this is something that we are addressing with Welsh Water.

 

We are also considering our enforcement response and until our investigations have concluded we will not be able to provide further information to interested parties.

Aberbaiden Wastewater treatment works, Usk

 

DCWW completed improvement works at this permitted sewage treatment works in March 2020, and we subsequently carried out an inspection of the site in July 2020. No permit breaches were recorded as part of our inspection. We are currently investigating the issues raised on the BBC Panorama programme and assessing the site’s compliance against the requirements of the permit.

 

Wild Swimming

 

We have seen an increase in the recreational use of the River Usk over the last year. We both encourage and support the use of our outdoor spaces, but there is a delicate balance to achieve between different user groups and the environment. We publish a code of conduct for wild swimming, which can be viewed here: https://naturalresources.wales/days-out/the-countryside-codes/the-wild-swimming- code/?lang=en. It is also worth noting that most rivers are not designated as bathing waters and there is therefore no disinfection of treated final effluent discharged from inland Waste Water Treatment Works as there are on some coastal discharges. There is an inherent risk associated with this activity from pathogens released in these discharges and from those naturally present such as Leptospirosis.

 

As I’m sure you will realise from the above information, the issues surrounding public sewers are more complex than presented in the Panorama programme and will require significant public investment and shift in public attitude if we want to see an improvement in the situation. We will continue to regulate the Water Industry robustly, but I believe that it is only through significant investment in infrastructure along with the inclusion of nature based solutions that we will see significant change.

 

I hope that you find this information useful. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

 

Yours sincerely,

Steve Morgan

Pennaeth Gweithrediadau De Ddwyrain Cymru Head of Operations SE Wales

 

Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Na