Post by Hoppy on Apr 27, 2007 14:33:07 GMT -1
Environment Agency Wales is investigating a pump failure at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water's sewage pumping station at Baglan near Port Talbot. This pumping station receives sewage from an estimated population of 58,000 in the Neath and lower Neath Valley.
As a result of the recent failure partially treated sewage has been discharged intermittently into Swansea Bay. The pumps normally ensure that the sewage and surface water is pumped to the company's Afan treatment works for full treatment prior to discharge to Swansea Bay via a long sea outfall.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water installed a temporary pump ensuring that about half the flow continued to be directed through the Afan treatment works. The remaining flow has been partially treated at Baglan before being discharged through the Baglan long sea outfall, over 4km out into Swansea Bay.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has completed the repairs at the pumping station earlier today and the intermittent discharge has now stopped. An intermittent discharge of partially treated sewage is permitted from this outfall and would normally only operate under high flow conditions, typically during and following high rainfall.
A number of local organisations and authorities have been informed of the incident.
In terms of water quality it is anticipated that the discharge will cause only minor environmental impact at the outfall which is over 4km out at sea. This is because the partial treatment was able to continue operating and because of the distance of the outfall from the shoreline. The discharge would have been quickly dispersed by sea currents and wave action.
Investigations are continuing and water samples have been taken.
As a result of the recent failure partially treated sewage has been discharged intermittently into Swansea Bay. The pumps normally ensure that the sewage and surface water is pumped to the company's Afan treatment works for full treatment prior to discharge to Swansea Bay via a long sea outfall.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water installed a temporary pump ensuring that about half the flow continued to be directed through the Afan treatment works. The remaining flow has been partially treated at Baglan before being discharged through the Baglan long sea outfall, over 4km out into Swansea Bay.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has completed the repairs at the pumping station earlier today and the intermittent discharge has now stopped. An intermittent discharge of partially treated sewage is permitted from this outfall and would normally only operate under high flow conditions, typically during and following high rainfall.
A number of local organisations and authorities have been informed of the incident.
In terms of water quality it is anticipated that the discharge will cause only minor environmental impact at the outfall which is over 4km out at sea. This is because the partial treatment was able to continue operating and because of the distance of the outfall from the shoreline. The discharge would have been quickly dispersed by sea currents and wave action.
Investigations are continuing and water samples have been taken.