Concern over Whitchurch Brook in Rhiwbina

Wales’s Environment Agency received 12 calls from concerned Cardiff residents yesterday regarding a suburb stream running white.

Rhiwbina residents noticed the discolouration of the stream and reported it.

Officers from Environment Agency Wales took samples from Whitchurch Brook and investigations traced the discolouration back to two nearby underground drinking water reservoirs.

The agency has today announced that it would like to reassure residents in Rhiwbina that there is nothing to be alarmed about.

Workers at the reservoirs confirmed that maintenance work was taking place which led to the discolouration.

An Environment Agency Wales spokesperson said: “We do not believe the discolouration has had an impact on the health of the river, which should now be running clear.

Officers will continue to monitor the river over the coming days. We’re really grateful for those members of the public who reported what they had seen.”

Luke Merlini, Area Communications Officer for Environment Agency Wales confirmed today that Environment Officers will be taking some form of enforcement action regarding the issue.

“As the investigation is still ongoing we cannot say what that is likely to be at this stage,” he said.

"It will be two to three weeks before we get the results of the samples but we are confident there has been no impact to the environment. We cannot name who we believe to be responsible for this until the investigation is complete," he added. 

Liane Bacon, from the Environment Agency speaking yesterday said: “We can confirm two officers have investigated reservoirs upstream. The incident has now stopped and there has been no impact on ecology or fish. We will be calling all residents back to explain the situation.”

The Environment Agency confirmed in communication with Independent Leader Jayne Cowan today:

"Our officers visited the site at around 4pm on Friday February 18, following reports of pollution from local residents. Our officers took samples from the site, which are currently being analysed at our lab.

"Our officers returned to the site at 10am on Saturday February 19 to check the condition of the brook, which was running clear.

"On Monday February 21 our officers visited the site a third time. They arrived at 12pm, following further complaints that the brook was running white. By following the brook upstream we located the source of the pollution - two underground drinking water reservoirs that were being cleaned. The maintenance workers immediately turned off the pumps that were causing the pollution, and the brook ran clear again."

Mary Clarke, Chairwoman of Rhiwbina Garden Village Residents’ Association and resident of Pen-y-dre, has the stream running through her front garden.

She said: “I first noticed the stream running white on Friday. It was like milk. I immediately called the Environment Agency and they said they would investigate the cause of the problem.

“It did begin to run clear again after an hour or so but when I noticed it started again on Monday I thought the problem must be more serious, so I called them again.”