Environment correspondent, Wales News
Pollution from rivers in Wales is impacting the marine environment and “suffocating our sea”, campaigners have warned.
WWF Cymru said excess nutrients from farming and sewage were leading to the growth of algal blooms, smothering the seabed.
New assessments of the condition of protected areas along the Welsh coast are set to be published on Wednesday by the environment watchdog Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Drafts obtained by the suggest multiple failures for water quality.
The Welsh government said the reports would provide “critical information” to help improve the marine environment.
NRW had previously confirmed that seven out of the nine most protected rivers in Wales – known as special area of conservation or SAC rivers – were failing water quality targets due in part to high levels of nutrients.
Run-off and slurry spills from agricultural land, wastewater discharges and pollution from industry were all contributors to the problem.
The situation has already led to limits being placed on housebuilding along SAC rivers.
Launching a manifesto of asks to politicians ahead of next year’s Senedd election, WWF Cymru said a similar picture was now emerging in the sea.
Pollution fed in from rivers is damaging marine ecosystems and the ocean’s ability to store carbon, “making conditions for recovery or restoration of carbon-rich habitats, such as seagrass, challenging”, it said.
The charity called for a “strong recovery plan” for ocean habitats, backed by law and funding.
Manuel Breva ColmeiroLike with rivers, estuaries and areas of the sea around Wales are protected for their important habitats and wildlife.
NRW is set to publish a series of assessments and guidance on the condition of these marine SACs and special protection areas (SPAs) on Wednesday.
These long-awaited reports will be the first of their kind since 2018.
Drafts obtained by the suggested several of the marine SACs in Wales were failing water quality targets for excess nutrients.
These include the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation, one of the country’s most famous and popular tourist hotspots.
In the marine environment the nutrient of concern is generally nitrogen, predominately from agricultural run-off and pollution incidents, the reports suggest.
Adrian BurkeRic Cooper helps run The Cleddau Project in Pembrokeshire where a group of volunteers are working to restore the county’s main rivers – the Western and Eastern Cleddau – back to good health.
“I live on the estuary and like others had become increasingly distraught with the state of the river,” he said.
“It would often smell of sewage and sometimes slurry, and the life in the river was deteriorating before our eyes.
“We have green algal banks, we have what they can algal mats in the summer months which are due to excess nutrients in the water, sunlight and warm temperatures.”
The condition of the river and marine environment are “very linked”, Mr Cooper explained, but he felt the impact on the coast and sea were “almost like a forgotten story”.
“There hasn’t been the same pressure to improve things for the estuary as there has been for the freshwater Cleddau.”
He said the group, which has spent the last year coordinating a citizen science project monitoring water quality at 49 sites, involving 100 volunteers, was very much looking forward to reading NRW’s reports.
“We want it to be highlighted that this water body is failing, it’s in a bad way and then the powers that be will have to decide what can be done about it.
“We’re hoping this catalyses more action.”
Shea Buckland-Jones, head of policy and advocacy at WWF Cymru, said the charity expected the reports would “show the terrible state of our waterways and the urgent action needed from Welsh government”.
“Sadly, the public do not need to view a report to appreciate the dire state of our waterways as it is all too apparent.
“This is why there is so much support from across Wales to bring Welsh rivers back to full health,” he added, pointing to polling carried on the charity’s behalf.
It suggested 87% of the Welsh public supported action from the Welsh government to reduce and where possible eliminate river pollution caused by agriculture and sewage.
Results show 79% of those asked supported restoring carbon-rich marine habitats such as seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs.
“As we have set out in our new manifesto this means sustained action to restore ecosystems and prevent all sources of river pollution, focusing on the two biggest sources; agriculture and sewage,” Mr Buckland-Jones said.
A spokesman for NFU Cymru said the farming union recognised “the role that farmers have to play in maintaining and enhancing water quality in Wales”.
“Farmers take their environmental responsibilities seriously and NFU Cymru continues to work with partners to take action to reduce incidences of agricultural point source and diffuse pollution, where the evidence shows this is needed,” they said.
Welsh Water said it planned to invest £4bn – including £2.5bn on environmental projects – between now and 2030.
“During the next two years we will be building on NRW’s work and carrying out investigations to understand the different sources of nutrients found in sea water whether from runoff water from the land or wastewater,” the company said.
“River pollution and marine water quality is not just an issue for water companies. We need to work together with other sectors who impact water quality to ensure improvement.”
The Welsh government said it was “committed to improving the health of our rivers and seas” and undertaking “a range of actions to improve water quality”.
This includes implementing “at pace all recommendations from the recent Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations Review,” it added.
“We remain dedicated to developing and strengthening environmental law in Wales. The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, recently laid in the Senedd, reflects the ongoing need to deliver transformative change, including tackling drivers of biodiversity loss such as nutrient pollution.”
