Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution,
therefore the registration of all private sewage systems in Wales is required by 30
June 2012. The primary aim of this exercise is to provide increased protection for
the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where properties
are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources
Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made.
It is Natural Resources Wales' role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing
waters that are at risk of failing European standards. It is natural for water to
run off the land to the sea. Water quality at a bathing water is dependent upon the
type and area of land (the catchment) draining to the water and the activities undertaken
in that catchment. The following sections serve to highlight potential sources of
pollution, conditions under which they may arise and measures being put in place to
improve water quality.
