Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is calling for water companies to step up and take action after its annual environmental performance reports for water companies highlighted an increase in pollution incidents and decrease in compliance with environmental permits for sewage discharges.

The deterioration in performance by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has led to the company being downgraded from four-star (industry leading) company status last year to three-star (good company) under 2021 Environmental Performance Assessment metrics (EPA).

The report reveals that 83 sewage-related pollution incidents were caused by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water assets last year, compared to 77 the previous year. Two of these pollution incidents were categorised as having a serious (High) environmental impact. There was also one serious (High) incident from a water supply asset. It also shows that numeric compliance against permitted discharges dropped from 99.7% to 98.3% and self-reporting of incidents dropped from 80% to 76%.

The overall number of pollution incidents rose from six to eight for Hafren Dyfrdwy, the company were able to report no serious pollution. They also had a drop in numeric compliance at permitted discharges from 100% to 97.9% and self-reporting of incidents dropped from 100% to 75%.

Expectations for improvements are outlined in both reports, including targets to reduce the number of pollution incidents year on year, aiming towards zero.

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