P-06-1398 To act to increase the effectiveness of Natural Resources Wales in halting pollution on the Teifi
P-06-1398 To act to increase the effectiveness of Natural Resources Wales in halting pollution on the Teifi
This
petition was submitted by Moira Williams, having collected a total of 1,321
signatures.
Text of Petition:
The river Teifi is dying
due to levels of pollution.
We call on the Senedd to increase the funding to Natural Resources Wales to
enable it to fulfil its obligations in relation to the monitoring of the health
of the river and the enforcement of legal requirements.
We also call upon the Senedd to ensure that Natural Resources Wales is held to
account for its performance. This would help to safeguard the Teifi for future
generations as proposed in The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015.
Additional Information:
Levels of pollution on the
Teifi are high. Numbers of salmon, otter and other aquatic life are in serious
decline.
The Teifi is a Special
Area of Conservation that is under threat from pollution and climate change.
Data provided by Natural Resources Wales indicate that its poor water quality
means 78% of the water bodies in the catchment are classified as poor or moderate
under the Water Framework Assessment.
Similarly, large sections
of the river are failing phosphate target levels and a study by Natural
Resources Wales indicates the Salmon and Lamprey populations are at risk of
extinction in the next 15 years.
Climate change has
resulted in low water levels in spring and higher water temperatures which have
enhanced the growth of algal blooms and depleted oxygen levels in the water.
In 2022 the river
experienced 1,889 sewage spills from combined sewage outfalls which lasted
14,079 hours, the 6th worst river in England and Wales for sewage spill
duration.
Senedd Constituency
and Region
- Carmarthen
East and Dinefwr
- Mid and West Wales
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Business type: Petition
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: For consideration
First published: 18/04/2024