REPORTS of dead fish alongside sewage discharge in the River Wye have prompted an investigation by the Environment Agency.

Dead salmon were said to have been found after sewage from the Newlands Wastewater Treatment Works, run by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, was released from an outlet at Redbrook through numerous discharges last week.

Concerns were raised about the quality of the discharge after the fish were found, and the pollutant was reportedly smelled and seen being released every morning throughout the week.

As the Wye is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Wye Salmon Association is concerned about the effect the discharge is having on salmon population. Alongside this, there are fears about concentrations of sewage in a river used for water sports and swimming.

As the discharges from the plant are effectively passive, the issue revolves around the quality of the sewage and the concentrations of it when the river is at low levels. Sewage released from the treatment plant does not have to be ‘clean,’ but must reach a permitted standard so that there is no risk of adverse impact downstream.

In a newsletter to its members, a spokesperson for the Wye Salmon Association said: “One angler reported seeing sewage and a very bad smell along with dead fry and dead adult salmon. Another angler reported seeing dead fry and a rash appearing on his hands when removing debris from the river.

“Migration of adult salmon is being seriously hindered by these discharges, the pollutants causing fish to drop back to the tide. A period of low water and hot weather could result in high mortality and a serious fish kill as a result.

“One fishery owner suggested discharges to be a growing problem. In previous years he reports juvenile flounders and coarse fish, were regularly seen in his stretch of the river. Now this is a rarity.

“The Wye is a special Area of Conservation (SAC), and in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These discharges would not be permissible if they were pumping out off a swimming beach, but are being allowed in an SAC, regularly used by canoeists with young children.

“It seems a problem that can only be solved by Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water cleaning up the Redbrook plant.”

A spokesperson for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said: “Welsh Water operates and maintains the Wastewater Treatment Works at Newlands, which discharges into the River Wye.

“Concerns have recently been reported to us about the water quality in the area. These reports were immediately fully investigated in conjunction with the environment agency.

“No issues have been found with the treatment works or any of the pumping stations serving the area. Water quality sampling and investigations are continuing in order to trace other sources of discharge.

“We have invited Wye Salmon Association to tour our treatment works in order to reassure them that it is performing in accordance with its environmental permit.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “We have received a number of concerns about the quality of a permitted discharge to the River Wye at Redbrook.

“Our officers have attended the area and are working with the local water company to ascertain whether there are any issues with the discharge quality, and if there is any risk to the fish population and investigations are on-going.

“We ask if a member of the public notice any dead fish or fish in distress to call our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”