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Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water have been slammed by Pembrokeshire politicians after the industry regulator found "serious and unacceptable" breaches in the supplier's sewage and network services.
A £40 million penalty, 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, South Pembrokeshire’s Labour MP Henry Tufnell remarked: “Welsh Water has failed Pembrokeshire!”
“Working with the local community - I’ve been on the ground with campaigners like the Cleddau Project, who are looking to protect our vital streams and rivers,” continued Mr Tufnell, who as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, had previously questioned Welsh Water’s former CEO on falling environmental standards, repeated storm overflow spills, and rising executive pay, despite the company failing our communities.
Mr Tufnell recently chaired a discussion on the future of the Cleddau River, bringing together experts, organisations, and residents to develop practical solutions.
The MP has also been checking progress first-hand at Tenby’s Wastewater Treatment Works to ensure improvements are being implemented.
“I will not stop until Pembrokeshire’s rivers, streams, and beaches are fully protected, clean, and safe for everyone to enjoy!” he added.
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member for the Welsh Conservatives, Samuel Kurtz also raised the matter, on a trip to Saundersfoot, where he spoke with the Numb Nuts and Blue Tits cold water swimmers.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up hearing stories of water pollution from water companies, discharging sewage into our waterways while the bosses have big bonuses!” remarked Mr Kurtz.
“It’s good that Welsh Water have been fined for their failures, but that money needs to go into improving the sewage system, and we the customers shouldn’t be paying larger water bills! And did you know...water quality in Wales is fully the responsibility of the Welsh Government, not the UK Government.
“There’s amazing work already underway, like The Cleddau Project, but we need a holistic approach, not piecemeal,” he added.
Lynn Parker from Ofwat said: "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.”
A spokesperson for Dŵr Cymru said: “We accept the findings of Ofwat’s investigation and apologise for where we have fallen short of the standards that our customers and re

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00:00What a beautiful morning in Saundersfoet and I've been out enjoying this early morning sunshine with
00:05the numnuts and blue tits, a group of locals who enjoy our fantastic waterways and getting out
00:12into the sea for an early morning dip. But like them, I share a concern about the quality of our
00:18waterways and I've been working over the last couple of years as a Senate member on trying to
00:23improve our waterways. I've written an article about the need for a holistic approach, bringing
00:27everything together rather than pointing the finger at one industry or agriculture over another.
00:32We all need to be talking about water quality and improving it in a holistic way and I'm fed up
00:38of
00:38water companies discharging through CSOs when there's no need for it and when it's unpermitted
00:44and hiding behind the idea that they're not for profit. That's not acceptable especially when
00:49there's extortionate bonuses being paid at the same time. So we need to sit around the table together
00:54and improve our waterways. That's why I want to host the Clare Thy Project up in Cardiff if I'm
01:00re-elected to bring them in front of policy makers and the good work that they're doing. I think
01:04that's really important because we want to enjoy our waterways and it's about time that we do something
01:08about it.
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