Welsh Water fined £40 million for sewage failures

Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water have been slammed once again after the water supplier was fined £40 million for sewage failings.
The £40 million fine, imposed by industry regulator Ofwat, was supplemented by a £4.1 million package to improve river quality.
Responding to Ofwat’s announced enforcement package for Dŵr Cymru, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Climate Change Delyth Jewell MS said: “People are fed up of more and more sewage being dumped into our waterways while companies face little consequences.
“While water bills are becoming steeper, our water quality is becoming poorer - and yet those in charge of the system are being rewarded with huge bonuses. The current system isn't working and it's about time water companies were held accountable.
“Plaid Cymru will present a new water bill for Wales that will allow us to strengthen the regulatory system and fix this broken system - improving water quality, tackling pollution, and ensuring affordability for households the long-term.”
Welsh Conservatives Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies has also condemned the company, warning that customers could face higher bills as a consequence.
He said it would be unacceptable if the firm reported profits while passing the cost of the fine onto hard pressed consumers.
Dŵr Cymru reported an £8 million loss in the last financial year, but made a £46 million profit the year before.
Mr Davies also said Senedd ministers’ environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had serious questions to answer over its failure to regulate the sewage scandal properly.
He reiterated his calls for the “unfit for purpose” NRW to be closed and replaced.
Mr Davies remarked: “It’s unacceptable that Wales’ main water supplier Dŵr Cymru has again been fined for sewage breaches. “The firm has reported significant profits in recent years –if consumers end up footing the bill for this fine it will be unconscionable.
“Senedd ministers’ sewage regulator Natural Resources Wales also has serious questions to answer – it’s not fit for purpose and should be closed and replaced.”
Lynn Parker from Ofwat commented: "Our investigation has found serious and unacceptable breaches in how Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water has operated and maintained its sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows to the environment.
“We now expect them to focus on putting things right so that customers can regain trust in their water company and the critical service they provide.
“The enforcement package will also tackle groundwater entering the sewer network - a major cause of frequent spills - and the money towards improving river quality will be spent in ‘extremely sensitive’ catchments.”
©Video: BBC Wales