NATURAL Resources Wales declared an ‘abnormal incident’ as swimmers were advised not to enter the water at a Vale beach.

Vale Council has had to put up signs advising people not to swim at the beach in Ogmore in a ‘hugely disappointing’ situation.

Wales’ national water company Welsh Water say the incident is related to an incident in the River Ogmore near Penybont wastewater treatment works where a small underground leak on one of the site’s treatment tanks is leaking a small element of wastewater.

NRW say they declared an ‘abnormal incident’ as pollution could be affecting the bathing water downstream.

A spokesperson said yesterday, May 24: “impacting water quality at the Ogmore-by-Sea designated bathing water.

“Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is investigating a potential underground leak from one of the tanks at the Penybont wastewater treatment. They’ve also placed pollution prevention measures across the affected channel adjacent to the River Ogmore to try to contain the polluted water.

"As the pollution could be affecting the bathing water downstream, we’ve declared an ‘abnormal situation’, as defined by the Bathing Water Regulations, and Vale of Glamorgan Council has placed signs at Ogmore-by-Sea beach to notify people of the pollution upstream in the river.

“This will remain in place until there is no longer a pollution risk.”

Welsh Water say they are working to contain the leak.

A spokesperson for the company said: “We have undertaken extensive investigations and have tested the sewers coming into the site, along with other pipelines within the boundary of the site.

“Having now assessed our tanks and infrastructure on site, we have identified a small underground leak on one of the site’s treatment tanks.

“This is mostly groundwater but contains a small element of wastewater and we are now working to contain the leak and prevent it from entering the nearby watercourse.

“We are undertaking daily ecological assessments to ensure that we minimise any impact on the environment, including the beach at Ogmore. We do not believe that this will impact on other nearby beaches.”

Vale Council say they are ‘hugely disappointed’ at another situation of having to advise people that they cannot enjoy the water in the county.

Council chief executive Rob Thomas said: “We have put in place additional signs at Ogmore beach to advise visitors not to enter the water.

"While we understand the causes of the pollution incident is still being investigated by NRW and Dŵr Cymru, it is hugely disappointing and regrettable to again be in the situation of having to advise people that they cannot enjoy the water at Ogmore by sea.”