Water Poloution in Aberdaron Posted Wednesday, March 22, 2000 by penllyn
Environment Agency Wales is continuing to monitor a water pollution incident involving slurry in the North Wales village of Aberdaron, Pen Llyn.

The Bangor area office received a report at 10.00 am yesterday (March 21) of a black discolouration and unpleasant smell in Afon Cyll-y-Felin upstream of Aberdaron.

Agency officers inspected the area and discovered a spillage of slurry from a nearby farm. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 gallons of slurry had been discharged to the river. A formal sample was taken and served on the farmer. A case file is now being prepared for consultation by the Agency’s Legal Department.

Early this morning (Wednesday 22), the slurry "plug" had reached the village, where the Afon Cyll-y-Felin flows into Afon Daron, and then on to the sea. A few dead fish were spotted and there was an obtrusive and unpleasant smell in the area.

It is expected that most of the effluent will have flowed into the sea following this afternoon's ebb tide

Iwan Thomas, the Agency's Environment Protection Team Leader, said: "This is an unfortunate incident and one which demonstrates that there is a need to abide by the Regulations relating to the storage of slurry. Despite the fact that, at present, only a few fish appear to have been affected, it is likely that the general ecology of this stream will have been severely hit as a result of this discharge".

People who spot, pollution, poaching , fish in distress, illegal tipping of waste or danger to the natural environment can contact the Environment Agency Wales emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Calls are free and the hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.