Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has published an update on a leak from its Penybont wastewater treatment works (WwTW) following the report of pollution the company received on 17 May in the River Ogmore near the works.

Penybont WwTW is located near Ogmore beach and provides wastewater treatment services to around 160,000 customers in the Bridgend area. After being treated, the water is usually returned safely to the environment in line with regulatory permits.

Welsh Water has taken a number of measures which include testing the sewers coming into the site, along with other pipelines within the boundary of the site. Having now assessed the tanks and infrastructure on site, an underground leak has been identified on one of the site’s treatment tanks.

According to the water company, while no major burst has been detected, the small underground leak from the site has resulted in some wastewater flowing through a banking into a stream that feeds into the river. The wastewater is mixed with groundwater and is contained to a small area adjacent to the treatment works.

Welsh Water’s priority is containing the leak to limit any impact on the river and bathing beach. The utility has also been emptying the tank by directing flows into another tank on site. Customers may have seen a green/red colour in the river - this is the dye being used to locate the leak which is not harmful to the environment.

The company’s aim has been to fully contain the leak before it can assess the tank in more detail and start the repair work. Welsh Water commented:

“This will be challenging given the size of the site but we are undertaking daily ecological assessments to avoid any impact on the environment.

“However, despite this small leak into a very large estuary, we’re taking this seriously given how close we are to local bathing waters. As a precaution, this is why we are advising local customers to avoid going into the sea at Ogmore until wider sampling has been completed over the next few days.”