Community

Pollution incidents by Dŵr Cymru triple as NRW calls for urgent action

Published

12 months ago

July 19, 2025

Welsh Conservatives say public being let down—but Welsh Water vows £4bn improvement plan

THE NUMBER of serious pollution incidents involving DŴR CYMRU has tripled since 2016, according to a new report by Natural Resources Wales (NRW)—with the company also discharging raw sewage for over 968,000 hours into rivers, lakes and coastal waters in 2024, the highest of any UK water firm.

Welsh Conservatives have called the figures “appalling” and accused Dŵr Cymru of failing to protect Wales’ waterways despite charging customers some of the highest water bills in the country.

Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, said: “Water companies in Wales, such as Dŵr Cymru, have a responsibility to ensure our waterways are protected—not to allow unchecked sewage dumping to continue.
“The scale of sewage dumping exposed in this report is appalling.
“Dŵr Cymru customers are being let down by a company that is spoiling Wales’ natural beauty and threatening public health.
“The fact that Welsh waterways remain among the most polluted in the UK shows just how badly Labour-run NRW has failed to get a grip on this crisis.”

NRW demands ‘fundamental changes’

NRW said there had been a “huge deterioration” in Welsh Water’s performance since 2020 and called for “urgent and fundamental changes” to how it operates.
In 2024, the company recorded 155 pollution incidents, up 42% in a decade—132 related to sewerage and 23 to water supply. Six were classified as serious category one or two incidents, down slightly from seven in 2023.

NRW’s head of regulation and permitting, Nadia De Longhi, said: “Despite repeated warnings and interventions, Welsh Water has been unable to reverse this concerning trend.
“This has left us with no choice but to pursue prosecutions. Welsh Water must address the root causes of these incidents before more harm is done.”

***Protests have taken place in Pembrokeshire about increasing pollution levels in both rives and the sea (Image: Herald)***

Welsh Water admits failings, pledges £4bn investment

In response, Welsh Water acknowledged its performance “is not where it needs to be”, citing better monitoring and reporting as one reason for the increased figures.
A spokesperson said: “We are accelerating investment in key areas to reduce pollution incidents with a £4 billion programme, including £2.5 billion on environmental projects.
“While we have made progress, such as increasing the number of incidents we find and self-report, we know more needs to be done.
“We remain committed to working constructively with NRW to deliver improvements.”

Welsh Water also pointed out that across the UK, pollution incidents have increased industry-wide, and that they are improving the use of smart technology to detect problems early.

In May 2024, the company was fined £1.35 million for failing to properly monitor water quality at 300 sites, prompting NRW to expand its own enforcement and oversight powers in future reports.

Community

Popular Under the Bridge youth project returns to Milford Waterfront

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FREE summer activities for 11 to 17-year-olds will begin next week as the award-winning Under the Bridge project returns to Milford Waterfront.

The initiative, delivered by the Port of Milford Haven in partnership with Milford Youth Matters, will offer activities and entertainment throughout the school holidays.

The first session will take place on Tuesday, July 21, from 6pm to 8pm, with events continuing every Tuesday and Friday evening until Friday, August 28.

Young people will be able to take part in a varied programme including inflatables, water safety sessions and workshops delivered by St John Ambulance and the VC Gallery.

Free refreshments will also be available at every session.

More than 250 young people took part in Under the Bridge last year, demonstrating the continuing demand for free and accessible activities during the summer holidays.

Emily Jones, Engagement Executive at the Port of Milford Haven, said the project had become one of the organisation’s most successful community initiatives.

She said: “Under the Bridge remains one of our most successful and well-established community projects, engaging hundreds of young people every summer.

“Working alongside the fantastic team at Milford Youth Matters, we are able to provide a safe and welcoming environment where young people can enjoy a wide range of activities, make new connections and develop valuable skills.

“The programme also plays an important role in promoting positive engagement and helping to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

“We are delighted to see it return for another year and look forward to welcoming participants throughout the summer.”

Dayle Gibby, Milford Youth Matters Co-ordinator, said the programme had become an important part of the summer for many young people in the area.

He said: “We are extremely grateful to the Port of Milford Haven for its continued support of the Under the Bridge summer project.

“The programme provides free and accessible activities in a safe and welcoming environment.

“Through our partnership with the Port, we are able to engage with hundreds of young people each year, helping them to build confidence, form positive relationships and make the most of their summer holidays.

“We are proud to work alongside an organisation that shares our commitment to supporting the wellbeing and development of young people across our community.”

Under the Bridge forms part of the Port of Milford Haven’s wider educational engagement programme.

The programme is guided by three themes: creating a safe, inclusive and enjoyable Waterway, building a skilled and confident community, and supporting a sustainable and resilient environment.

Community

Pembrokeshire pupils discover careers on the Milford Haven Waterway

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

More than 200 pupils took to the water to learn about opportunities in energy, engineering, tourism and conservation

PUPILS from two Pembrokeshire secondary schools have been given a first-hand look at the wide range of careers connected to the Milford Haven Waterway.

More than 200 Year 8 pupils from Ysgol Harri Tudur in Pembroke and Milford Haven School took part in a series of educational boat trips organised by the Port of Milford Haven in partnership with Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum.

Travelling between the Cleddau Bridge and Stack Rock, the pupils heard from professionals working in industries based on and around the Waterway.

Representatives from Dragon LNG, Ledwood, the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation spoke about their own career journeys and offered advice on routes into employment.

The initiative was designed to help pupils understand the opportunities available locally as they begin considering their future subject choices. A separate trip was also arranged for Year 10 engineering pupils from Milford Haven School.

Topics covered during the sessions included marine renewable energy, tourism, environmental conservation, skippering, engineering and careers within the energy industry.

Anna Malloy, Communications and Marketing Director at the Port of Milford Haven, said the project aimed to introduce young people to careers they may not previously have considered.

She said: “The Milford Haven Waterway supports a diverse range of industries and offers a wealth of career opportunities, many of which young people may not be aware of.

“Through this project, pupils had the chance to experience the Waterway from a unique perspective and hear directly from professionals whose work contributes to a thriving local economy that reaches global markets.

“By showcasing the breadth of careers available, we hope to inspire young people to consider the exciting opportunities that exist here in Pembrokeshire and broaden their understanding of the industries that help shape our region.”

Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum facilitated the trips.

Tom Luddington, Coastal Stakeholder Manager, said: “Hearing directly from people working in local businesses and conservation along the Waterway was an impactful and innovative way to inspire pupils about potential future careers.

“The professionals were able to share their knowledge and experience across areas including marine renewable energy, tourism, conservation, skippering and the energy sector.”

The project forms part of the Port of Milford Haven’s educational engagement programme, which aims to raise awareness of local career pathways and encourage the next generation to explore opportunities within Pembrokeshire’s maritime, industrial and environmental sectors.

Photo caption: Year 8 pupils explore career opportunities during an educational boat trip on the Milford Haven Waterway.

Community

Llangwm LitFest returns with tales of slow travel and inclusive writing

Published

5 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Three-day festival will bring literature, music, art and workshops to the Pembrokeshire village from August 7 to 9

LLANGWM LitFest will return this summer with a varied programme celebrating travel writing, remarkable historical figures and opportunities for people of all abilities to tell their own stories.

The popular literary festival, which has showcased almost 200 writers since it was established in 2016, will take place across Llangwm from Friday, August 7, to Sunday, August 9.

Festival director Michael Pugh will be discussing his own book, Riding Through War and Peace, which recounts his 1,500-mile journey on horseback from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine to Transylvania.

The book has been published during the Chinese Year of the Horse.

Mr Pugh said: “I am thrilled that Riding Through War and Peace was published in the Year of the Horse.

“It is a wonderful way to travel. The horse acts as an excellent way to interact with people, and you see so much more when you travel slowly.”

The journey took three months and was undertaken against the backdrop of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Mr Pugh’s work has been compared with that of celebrated travel writers Patrick Leigh Fermor and Colin Thubron.

Russian history has long featured prominently in the festival’s programme, and this year will be no exception.

One of the headline events will focus on Miranda Seymour’s acclaimed biography of Princess Vera Gedroits, a pioneering surgeon, aristocrat and early feminist.

Princess Vera became Russia’s first female surgeon, championed workers’ rights and is said to have personally expelled Rasputin from her hospital ward.

Mr Pugh said: “The book has been praised as a masterpiece and shows Miranda Seymour at the height of her powers.”

Organisers say one of the events they are most proud to host this year is a supportive writing workshop for people with disabilities and different abilities.

The workshop is being heavily subsidised by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and is intended to provide a welcoming environment in which participants can develop and share their writing.

Mr Pugh said: “Life can be hard for people with disabilities. We want to support them and hear their voices.

“The festival has been inspiring people to write for the past ten years, and the results have greatly enriched our programme.”

There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to perform their own work during Songs, Poems and Pints at Llangwm Rugby Club on Friday, August 7.

The evening will also feature music from Wrong Direction and the Varifolkals.

Music will continue on Sunday, August 9, when Ensemble Stinan performs at St Jerome’s Church.

Local artwork will be available to buy at Llangwm Village Hall, while a selection of crafts will be displayed at St Jerome’s Church during the first two days of the festival.

Mr Pugh added: “We are fortunate to have such a wealth of high-quality work being produced locally in Llangwm.”

Llangwm LitFest takes place from August 7 to 9, 2026.

Further information is available by emailing [email protected] or visiting www.llangwmlitfest.co.uk. The festival can also be found on Facebook at Llangwmlitfest and on X, formerly Twitter, at @Llangwmlitfest1.