I'd like to thank Alun Davies MS for what I consider to be an exceptional legislative proposal. Now, whilst the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales is targeting all farmers in relation to water pollution through the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021, Welsh Water and other water companies are effectively responsible for too many water pollution incidents and simply they are allowed to get away with it, and it is not being addressed. Too often, in my own constituency, I can think of incidents where hundreds and hundreds of fish died and were found dead as a result of water pollution incidents, and local anglers bringing this to my attention. I then contact the water companies and, indeed, NRW, but the speed by which they work is simply not fast enough. Last year I worked on a case that highlighted the fact that despite Welsh Water being aware of hydraulic overload flooding issues at a lay-by in Capel Curig during heavy rain, and that's been happening since 2004, it still remains the case, almost two decades later, that the organisation simply cannot justify a permanent solution to the flooding issues.

According to the Consumer Council for Wales it is important to understand that if the flooding has been caused by the public sewer, the sewerage provider is responsible for fixing the problem. Additionally, with regard to sewerage undertakers, the following is noted in section 94(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991:

'It shall be the duty of every sewerage undertaker...to provide, improve and extend such a system of public sewers (whether inside its area or elsewhere) and so to cleanse and maintain those sewers and any lateral drains which belong to or vest in the undertaker as to ensure that that area is and continues to be effectually drained'.

I actually do believe, and it's understandable—no-one is not saying it is—that they are failing, currently, to meet that duty due to finance issues. We need to undertake a frank discussion with the organisation to establish exactly what it would take to ensure that their infrastructure operates in an effective way that does not harm the environment. And I have to say, in all fairness to Dŵr Cymru, when they've had issues, it can be—. I think Welsh Government have a part to play here, Minister. I think we all, as Members, should be doing more to highlight the problem that plastic wipes that are flushed down the toilet—the negative impact that has. I quite often retweet Dŵr Cymru notices asking people not to put these things in the toilet, because they are really causing heavy pollution, heavy blockages and, you know, our—