Responding to the very disappointing news that the Blue Flag award has been withdrawn from Cefn Sidan beach, Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, has called for action through the Assembly to improve water quality.
Myfanwy has obtained official figures for the water quality in the Burry Inlet released by the environment agency showing a huge peak in pollution in late September. The total number of sewage bacteria in 100 ml of water jumped from around 200 to over 22,000, an increase of 11,000%. The dates of the pollution surge coincide with the release of raw sewage from Burry Port pumps over a 20hr period during exceptionally heavy rain in mid September. The duration of the sewage leak was confirmed by Dr Kiel, a representative of Welsh Water at a meeting of Burry Port Town Council on November 18th last year. Given the capacity of the existing pumps, hundreds of tonnes of sewage would have been released at that time. In addition, during early November, Dr Keil confirmed that sewage was pumped directly into the estuary for a record 36 hours.
Councillors in Burry Port and Pembrey had been voicing concerns about water quality prior to losing the Blue Flag. Losing the award has increased local uneasiness about water treatment and the impact that large-scale housing developments will have on inadequate and over-used water treatment works.
Myfanwy is calling on the Assembly Government to ensure that the water is made safe again and has asked for a series of ministerial meetings to discuss this pressing issue. Helen Mary Jones has arranged to meet the Minister for the Environment on 11th of February where she will bring forward these concerns. Dŵr Cymru, the Environment Agency and the Countryside Commission Wales have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to improve water quality. The meeting will focus on how this agreement can be used to ensure that Dŵr Cymru develop adequate water treatment works along the Burry Inlet.
Myfanwy's call comes a week after she arranged a meeting in Llanelli to discuss the state of the estuary with Jill Evans, Plaid's MEP.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The situation whereby there was an increase of 11,000% in sewage bacteria in the estuary last September is completely unacceptable. I am delighted that Helen Mary Jones will meet with the minister on February 11th to discuss how to deal with the problem as a matter of real urgency.
The sewage systems inherited by Welsh Water were already old but there is no excuse for failing to invest in new works. Facts point to the inadequate sewage works on this side of the inlet as the source of the pollution surge. But if further facts point to problems elsewhere, those works will need to be replaced as part of the same project. Building new water treatment works would be a very large project and couldn’t come at a better time for the construction industry locally. We cannot allow a disaster like the sewage surge of last September to happen again”
Cllr Malcolm Davies said:
“I am pleased that Myfanwy has taken this issue on and is drawing on all the available evidence in the public realm to show how dangerous the situation has become. For far too long, hollow reassurances have been given about the state of the estuary. This is not about pinning blame on any particular agency, but it is time for all of them to work together to stop another environmental catastrophe like the one that cost us the Blue Flag”.
Cllr Robin Burn said:
“The pace of new residential developments in Burry Port worries me. I will work with my colleagues on the Council to make sure that inappropriate developments are halted while water quality is improved. I am not in favour of a complete ban on housing, as we need to continue building affordable homes for local people, but we cannot continue to build recklessly with no consideration for the environmental cost.”
The pollution figures can be found at this address:
http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/queryController?topic=coastalwaters&ep=2ndtierquery&lang=_e&layerGroups=1&x=240000.0&y=199800.0&extraClause=SAMPLING_POINT~'37700'&extraClause=SAMPLE_YEAR~2008&textonly=off&latestValue=&latestField=
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