๐ง A shocking scene unfolded on the River Towy in Carmarthen this weekend, as raw sewage spilled into the waters, filling the air with a ‘putrid’ stench. Local coracle fishermen, out in the early hours, spotted the mess and quickly raised the alarm.
๐จ Dลตr Cymru Welsh Water apologised, citing a burst mains pipe at a nearby pumping station as the cause. Swift action was taken once detected, but not before the situation had been ongoing for several days.
๐ค Coracle men like Julie and Malcolm Rees were taken aback, questioning why it took their vigilance to detect such a significant issue. “Imagine paddling through chunks of sewage โ it’s a sight and smell you can’t forget,” Julie remarked.
๐ฟ For generations, these fishermen have been custodians of the river. Malcolm voiced concerns over not only this incident but also legal discharges from local recycling businesses, potentially affecting precious fish stocks.
๐ With the tradition of coracle fishing reaching back to Roman times, the men are deeply connected to the river. However, this incident has sparked a call for better monitoring and a thorough review of water management practices.
๐ Fish numbers have been dwindling, and pollution events like this put additional pressure on the delicate river ecosystem. The community is demanding transparency, including water quality testing and long-term improvements to prevent future pollution.
๐ As the fish avoid the polluted waters, the impact reverberates through both wildlife and local livelihoods. The fishermen continue their age-old practice, hoping their vigilance prevents such an incident from happening again.
๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ The river, home to the limited coracle fishing, deserves protection and care. For now, the eyes of the coracle men will remain wide open, acting as vigilant stewards of the River Towy.