Sewage: Sea swimmers want political action over pollution

Labour insisted its government in Wales was “leading the charge” to “tackle all sources of pollution”.

“A UK Labour government will keep pushing for improvements, including by giving regulators the powers to block the payment of bonuses to executives who pollute our waterways.”

The Conservatives said the UK government was “holding water companies to task by subjecting polluters to unlimited penalties”.

“The Welsh Conservatives have long called for Labour and NRW to hold water firms to account and issue penalty fines.”

Plaid Cymru cited an “outdated sewerage network” and “lack of robust devolved powers” in Wales.

“Plaid Cymru firmly believes that the supply and treatment of water in Wales should ultimately be managed by a single publicly-owned body,” it said.

“We would also formally request powers from the UK government over the licensing of sewage in Wales.”

While the Liberal Democrats have not yet released its manifesto in Wales, the UK branch of the party say it would “strive towards protecting our rivers and coastlines”.

“It is a complete scandal that both the UK Conservative government and the Welsh Labour government have allowed water firms to get away with polluting our waterways here in Wales,” it said.

Reform UK said it “would impose a proper system of regulation with very heavy fines for water companies that pollute our natural environment”.

“It is unacceptable that overseas shareholders get rich, while prices have soared, and raw sewage is pumped into our rivers and seas.”

The Green Party said it was “an utter scandal that people no longer feel safe to swim in our seas”.

“The only way to end this scandal is to bring the water companies back into public ownership.”