Environmentalist group has called for “vital” regulation changes as pollution reaches three times the safe limit in the River Taff.
The Welsh Rivers Union have called for action due to rising phosphate levels recorded in the River Taff at Llandaff. The data recorded by local residents showed the phosphate levels rising to three times safe levels.
The groups Co-Founder, Kim Waters, thinks that the phosphate levels are un-ignorable and that the Welsh government and other organizations get away with false promises made in response to the worsening water quality in Wales.
He said: “The Evidence is clear across many welsh catchments, including the Taff. No one can dispute the phosphate issue now, but getting any effective policy or action from the Welsh government and Natural Resources Wales to tackle the source of the problem is proving difficult.”
“We haven’t had any encouragement from the welsh government or any other environmental-Non-Government Organizations, they have been talking about plans for decades but the trendlines are negative with every metric.”
Kim Waters, believes healthier rivers is important for future generations has also blamed the issue on enforcement of current agricultural guidelines.
He said: “Regulation is vital, and it needs political policy behind it, The Code of Good Agricultural Practice needs to be law and not just guidance.”
“I have fished the rivers of Wales since 1966. It saddens me to see the stark decline in the quality of the health of Welsh rivers, I will fight for future generations until my last breath.”
According to a report published by the welsh government, High phosphorus levels in rivers can lead to water toxicity, harm to biodiversity among other issues.
The report says: “When phosphorus enters water bodies it triggers boosted algae growth, which consumes the oxygen within the water eventually killing off the biodiversity… This is known as Eutrophication. Eutrophic rivers clog up pipes and boat propellers and is toxic to organisms that drink the water.”
National Water Company, Welsh Water believe the high phosphate levels are due to last week’s burst sewage pipe in Treforest. Natural Resources Wales, a government sponsored body, focused on the environment said in a statement that they continue to monitor water quality in the area after the sewage leak.
The statement read: “NRW officers have attended to monitor the site and collect water samples and are returning to site this morning to investigate further. They are also providing advice and guidance to Dwr Cymru, who have been working overnight in response to the incident.”
Data provided by the Welsh Rivers Union shows that Welsh Water faced 100,000 sewage spills in 2021, approximately 20,000 more than Britain’s largest water company, United Utilities.