A misconnected waste pipe from a unit on the Whitegate Industrial Estate has resulted in a pollution incident on the River Gwenfro in Wrexham.

A group of volunteers that work to keep green spaces, rivers and streets of Wrexham clean, came across the area and noticed a disconnected pipe flowing into the river Gwenfro. 

The Wrexham Litter Pickers noticed changes to this pipe from July 2022 where they noticed discolouration in the water with foaming.

A spokesperson from the team said: "It was a cause for concern due to the impact it could have on the local wildlife.

"This area of the Gwenfro contains fish and many birds including kingfishers, herons and dippers.

"What was more concerning was when reported none of the authorities seemed to know who owned the pipe and which facilities used it."

READ MORE: Live updates as temperatures drop to -6°C across Flintshire and Wrexham

 

Responding to the concerns a spokesperson from Natural Resources Wales said: "We can confirm that we have recently received reports of a pollution incident on the River Gwenfro in Wrexham.

READ MORE: Wrexham: 15 establishments get new food hygiene score

“On each occasion, NRW officers visited the site and have since undertaken an investigation in partnership with Wrexham County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. The investigation is now complete and we can confirm that the source was a misconnection that has since been corrected.

“All pollution incidents are a matter of concern. If you see any further signs of pollution in the area or have any environmental concerns, you can report this to our incident hotline on 0300 065 3000, which is open 24 hours a day, or via the report it form on our website.”

The company has not been fined however advice and guidance was issued in this case following the cooperation of the business involved in finding and stopping the source of the pollution.