The source of a kerosene pollution incident affecting parts of the River Taff in south Wales has been identified and stopped, but investigations are ongoing to determine how much damage has been caused.
The incident was first reported at around 7pm last Friday, with locals in Nantgarw, Treforest, and Taffs Well noting they could smell fuel. Further reports of pollution affecting the Taff in Glan Y Llyn, Gwaelod-y-garth, and Tongwynlais were also made. The pollution is understood to have affected more than two miles of the waterway.
GE Aerospace confirms fuel release during repairs
GE Aerospace confirmed fuel got into the river while repair work took place at its site in Nantgarw. A response team was immediately activated and the fuel supply shut off, the company said.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said on Wednesday that pollution into the river has now stopped, with teams being present at the site since Friday afternoon. Absorbent materials were put in place to try to contain the fuel.
Complex investigation and ecological assessments
The organisation said its initial investigation was “especially complex” because kerosene had escaped into an underground water drainage system where the fuel was mixing with water and escaping into a nearby culvert and tributaries from numerous sources.
Officers also conducted assessments of the ecological damage of the spill by using drones and visually assessing sections of the river. To date, NRW said it has observed fewer than 10 dead fish in the water.
Further sampling and public health warnings
Further samples will now be taken to understand the full impact of the spill, with NRW saying that “initial results suggest there have been impacts to aquatic invertebrates which may be linked to the recent pollution incident”. The organisation added that evidence is now being compiled to determine not just the environmental impact but also how the fuel entered the drainage system and reached the river.
After the spill was confirmed, Public Health Wales warned nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut and not to come into contact with the affected water.
