Welsh environment watchdog to probe pollution in water bodies

The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales, Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones, has announced a probe into water pollution in the country. The initiative follows “several submissions about water pollution to the assessor”.

Llewelyn Jones is preparing a report to ministers that will:

• determine whether the existing legal framework is functioning correctly;

• identify areas where the existing legal protection may not be delivering the intended benefits;

• identify potential gaps in existing legislation;

• identify areas where the practical application of the legislation may be impeded; and

• produce draft recommendations for how the law could be improved.

At this point the report’s scope is limited to non-agricultural sources of pollution but will cover wastewater discharges.

The assessor was established by the Welsh government to provide oversight of the implementation of environmental law in Wales following the UK’s exit from the European Union.