Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has apologised for what it said was caused by a mains burst, identified only after coracle men out fishing raised the alarm
13:01, 04 May 2026Updated 15:01, 04 May 2026
This is the disgusting moment “putrid” human sewage poured into the River Towy in Carmarthen. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has apologised for what it said was caused by a mains burst, identified only after coracle men out fishing raised he alarm.
Julie Rees, from Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association, said coracle men were in their boats fishing in the early hours at the weekend when they saw lumps of raw sewage and toilet paper in the marshes and the residue swirling in the river in the centre of the town.
“The coracles were paddling through this and the stench was awful,” she said. “This was around 12.30am in the early hours of Saturday (May 2) but the public told us later that is has been pouring in for at least seven days. It was right in the town centre part of the river by a public footpath as you come into town on the roundabout.” For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Andrew Davies and Derek Thomas, pictured, coracling in the River Towy when they noticed the sewage in the early hours of May 2(Image: Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association)
Her husband, coracle man Malcolm Rees said: “There was no solid matter in the water – that had all been spread about and retained in the marsh. The smell was putrid as you can imagine.”
The coracle men immediately told Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water which said the outpour of sewage was eventually stopped on Sunday, May 3.
A Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water spokesperson said “We have identified that a burst rising main at our pumping station has affected the River Towy in the Pensarn area of Carmarthen.
“As soon as the issue was identified, the pipe was isolated and tankers were deployed to manage flows while our teams carried out urgent repairs.
“Crews worked through the early hours of Sunday morning to resolve the problem as quickly and safely as possible, and the repair has now been completed with the system returning to normal operation.”
Coracle man Malcolm Rees said: “Solid matter had all been spread about and retained in the marsh. The smell was putrid as you can imagine.”
A further statement was issued on Monday morning, May 4, saying: “We received reports of potential sewage leak at the River Towy during the weekend. Initial checks with the operator identified a fault with equipment.
“While repair work was carried out, waste was removed by tanker to minimise any further impact. The repair has now been completed and a return visit will be made to monitor the situation. Pollution incidents should be reported to NRW via our 24‑hour incident line on 0300 065 3000 or online. We would like to thank those who reported this incident.”
Coracle men on the River Towy in Carmarthen(Image: Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association)
Mr Rees questioned why Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water had not picked up the leak itself and what systems it had in place to monitor its equipment. He said he would also like to know the results of any water quality testing.
“My hunch is that when this rising main burst it had not been tracked in their system. Dwr Welsh Water Cymru have to do a review of all their rising mains to make sure they are all tracked.
“It is farcical that coracle men are prohibited from catching salmon because of declining stocks and then this can happen. I wonder what review there will be and I want details of water quality testing.
“Had the coracles not been there this sewage would still be happening. We are custodians of the river.”
While there had been wildlife in the water at the time Mr Rees said there were no sewen, which was the catch they were out coracle fishing for. This was likely because the fish did not stop in their acclimatisation pools as they swam from the sea up river to spawning grounds, owing to the pollution.
“Where we fish, which is an area of about 800 metres of river, perhaps the reason we are not catching them is because they are shooting through to acclimatise at another point up the river where it is clean.”
The fisherman, whose family have been coracle men for at least 300 years when their records began, said fish stocks had been dwindling for many reasons, river pollution among them.
He said coracle men in Carmarthen were also concerned about waste discharged with a permit licence from a recycling business in the town. Although legal, he said he had been told the historic licence would not be granted now.
The tradition of coracle fishing dates back to Roman times. In 1923 the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act put an end to coracle fishing on many rivers. It is now limited to three West Wales rivers – the Towy, Teifi and Taf.
Just eight licences exist to fish on the River Towy in Carmarthen – with around three actively used. Traditionally, a coracle was a small boat made with ash woven together to make a lattice and covered with a calico sheet, then painted with three coats of bitumen paint.
The boats are very light with the traditional coracle weighing around 20lbs. A seat is placed in the centre with a seat support and two leather straps are attached, with the larger one used to carry the coracle over the fisherman’s shoulders.
The smaller one is used to house the “cnocr” or “priest” – the small wooden club used to stun the fish.
When afloat, the boat can be used in as little as three to four inches of water.
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