Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 6 October 2021.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 1:42, 6 October 2021

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, as you'll know, over recent months I've been extremely concerned about the number of river pollution incidents. I know I'm not alone in this, as many pollution incidents have been raised with me on a regular basis. Now, let me be clear, and for avoidance of doubt, I am certainly not pointing the finger of blame at our farmers. Now, having undertaken research, I am concerned about the number of releases by Dŵr Cymru made through each combined sewer overflow over the last four years. The findings are actually very startling. The number of spills recorded by Welsh Water using the 12/24 block counting method in 2018 were 48,158; 2019—73,517; 2020—104,482, and to date this year, 59,275. As I have repeatedly said, and many in our group have echoed, one pollution incident is one too many. Now, whilst the data for this year needs to be quality assured, the figures indicate that the total duration of all spills prior to processing through the 12/24-hour counting method is 516,270.5 hours. So, if you divide that by 24, we reach the startling fact that Wales has seen 21,511 days' worth of non-stop spills this year alone. So, would you agree with me, Minister, that the combined overflow situation in Wales can now be considered as a crisis? Thank you.