Welsh Liberal Democrats Condemn Sewage Dumping in Welsh National Parks

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have condemned the shocking levels of sewage dumping in Welsh National Parks.

A new report from the Campaign for National Parks reveals that almost half (48%) of rivers in Welsh National Parks fail to meet good ecological status.

According to the report, these waters are blighted by “hundreds of thousands of hours of sewage spills, agricultural run-off, and a toxic chemical cocktail from sewer overflows inside National Parks.”

Eryri (Snowdonia) was among the worst affected, with over 47,000 hours of sewage spills recorded. Campaigners note that in its natural state, Eryri would have the highest possible water quality, highlighting the tragic scale of damage caused by long-term sewage pollution.

The Pembrokeshire Coast also suffered significantly, with 38 sewage overflows resulting in nearly 16,000 hours of discharges in 2024 alone.

Closer to home, within Bannau Brycheiniog, 53.8% of river water bodies wholly or partly in the park are classed as moderate to bad. This decline in quality reflects more than 22,000 hours of sewage dumped into the park’s waters in 2023.

Environmental experts warn that sewage dumping not only devastates water quality but also destroys habitats and increases flood risks – compounding the damage to fragile ecosystems.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick MP said:

“The statistics presented by the Campaign for National Parks are undeniably shocking.

It is appalling that more than 254,000 hours of sewage were spilt into National Park rivers across the UK, with 85,000 hours of that here in Wales. Even worse, a large proportion of this disgraceful pollution happened in Bannau Brycheiniog, in our own constituency.

This cannot continue. We need urgent, stricter regulations on sewage dumping, and water companies must be held fully accountable for the environmental destruction they are causing.

Both the Welsh Labour Government and the UK Labour Government have utterly failed to act. Instead of standing up to polluting water companies, they are standing by while our rivers, our communities, and our natural heritage are poisoned. The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to end this scandal and to protect Wales’ precious national parks for future generations.”

Adding her comments, Welsh Lib Dem Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said:

"Here in the Beacons, sewage dumping isn’t just an environmental disgrace; it’s a direct threat to our way of life. Our rivers, streams and lakes are the backbone of the local tourism industry, which so many families and businesses rely on. Visitors come here for clean waters and thriving wildlife, but sewage pollution puts all of that at risk.

"The wildlife that makes this area so special is suffering because of reckless dumping and weak regulation. 

"Labour in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster is letting water companies get away with it. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear: we must stop this scandal now to protect our seas, safeguard local jobs, and defend the natural beauty that Wales is famous for.”

ENDS