Myfanwy Davies calls for action on waste water to create green jobs and cost savings for families

Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Llanelli, has called for action to combat pollution in the Burry Inlet and has outlined possibilities for creating green jobs and cuts in water bills for families. Last week Myfanwy released figures showing a peak of sewage pollution following the decision by Welsh Water and the Environment Agency to release untreated sewage into the Burry Inlet over 20 hours after a period of heavy rainfall. The Environment Agency has claimed that the loss of the Blue Flag at Pembrey was associated with water draining from fields and streams throughout the wet summer of 2008. However, the Agency’s own data shows good water quality throughout the summer suggesting that the exceptional release of sewage in September was to blame.

Myfanwy has revealed the true connection between flooding and sewage pollution in our estuary. Despite the assertions of the Environment Agency that the discharge of surface water through the sewage system is normal practice, this practice has been identified as a major threat to seaside communities. In its response to the UK Government’s water strategy ‘Future Water’, Welsh Water commits itself to phasing out this dangerous and irresponsible practice that appears to have cost Cefn Sidan its Blue Flag.

Due to longstanding concerns with water quality in the Burry Inlet, independent research on water quality in the Burry Inlet is currently being undertaken by Bangor University in order to verify the Environment Agency’s own figures. Myfanwy is calling on her colleague, Helen Mary Jones Llanelli’s Plaid AM to request that Jane Davidson, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, presses for new sewage works to be built west of Llanelli should these independent results show a significant increase in pollution.

Myfanwy has also noted that a new water treatment works, while welcome, will not address the problem of surface water drainage as so many developments change drainage patterns without offering alternative solutions. She has suggested that new homes need to conform to the highest legal standards in terms of allowing surface water to drain into artificial lakes or ponds and providing reed-beds for natural filtration. New government guidelines also require that new housing developments allow the re-use of ‘grey water’, such as that used in washing machines, in the sewage system. These developments will considerably cut water bills for families and have the potential to create green jobs in terms of building ponds, lakes and developing and maintaining reed-beds.

Speaking from her office in Llanelli yesterday, Myfanwy said:

”Like most people from the west of Llanelli, I view the Environment Agency’s assurances on water quality with a healthy dose of scepticism. Nonetheless, I am ready to wait for the independent report before judging the current state of our estuary. If the independent shows an increase in sewage pollution, then of course we will need a new water treatment plant in Burry Port. If that is the case, my colleague Helen Mary will do all she can to make sure that a waste water treatment plant will be built. I welcome the change in building regulations that mean that rain water can no longer be discharged through the sewage system creating a pollution catastrophe such as that which cost us the Blue Flag.

Some short-sighted people will always portray a concern with the environment as being something that will cost jobs. That is just not the case. Housing developments along the Burry Inlet are already being strongly encouraged to provide additional drainage by UK government guidelines. If building regulations were devolved to the Assembly, we could do so much more to protect the estuary and cut water bills for families. We have the potential here to develop green jobs in building a water treatment works, in terms of digging ponds and lakes and developing reed beds. All these developments will add to our environment and will help ensure that it is clean for years to come.

Welsh Water’s response to the DEFRA paper calling for a halt to releasing surface water through the sewage system can be found at: http://www.dwrcymru.co.uk/English/library/publications/surface%20water%20management%20strategy/english.pdf