Effects of minewater pollution

A pioneering South Wales project to restore the River Pelenna, a tributary of the River Afan, from the effects of minewater pollution is achieving results. Minewater discharges in the Tonmawr area, near Port Talbot, had led to severe discolouration of 7km of the river for decades, with effects on fish populations and other river life.

The River Pelenna Minewater Project was established to revitalise the river using passive methods to remove the metals from the minewater before it reaches the river. This summer, an electrofishing survey of the Pelenna catchment by Environment Agency Wales has clearly demonstrated the benefits of the minewater remediation scheme. From being fishless in 1996 the Gwenffrwd tributary of the Pelenna now has a good population of juvenile trout whilst there have also been improvements on the Blaenpelenna downstream of the new treatment system at Garth Tonmawr. The visual appearance of the Pelenna has also been greatly enhanced. Monitoring of the improvements will continue for the next few years.

The project was implemented by a partnership between the Environment Agency and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC). Financial Support for the project was drawn from the Welsh Development Agency and the European Union LIFE Programme with additional funding from the BOC Foundation for the Environment. Niall Reynolds, Environment Planning Manager for Environment Agency Wales, South West Area, said: "After an absence of fish for more than 30 years, due to the heavily polluting discharges of iron into the rivers Pelenna and Gwenffrwd, we are pleased to see the return of trout to the rivers as a result of all the hard work undertaken by everyone as part of the Pelenna restoration project. It shows what can be done by people working collaboratively to solve what was thought to be an irrevocable situation."

Dave Gilbert, Head of Economic Development for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council welcomed the results of the survey and said:"The River Pelenna Minewater Project has made a significant contribution to quality of environment and quality of life in Tonmawr, building on previous reclamation, landscaping and community enterprise projects".

Alison Smith, Environment Manager for The Welsh Development Agency, West Wales Division said: "The scheme has been a flagship project for demonstrating innovative environmental techniques to a European audience and the welcome evidence of returning trout confirms our commitment to the benefits of partnership projects and to seeking and implementing sustainable solutions wherever possible."