Motion - Phosphates

Motion as voted upon

This council and neighbouring authorities in Wales and England have faced severe planning restrictions due to the phosphate levels within our rivers. This is a national issue that is being passed around, and communities are being divided on who is responsible and how to deal with the issue.



We have heard numerous times that high concentrations of phosphorus in our rivers are due to agricultural practices, runoff from urban areas, leaking septic systems or discharges from sewage treatment plants, to name just a few that the public is citing as the cause. All of these systems are mainly operating within the laws that were granted to them, and that allows them to discharge into our rivers. We need to acknowledge they are operating within the rules set by the national government.



Whilst individually such developments are of minimal impact, collectively they cause massive damage to our environment, and impact the housing shortage issue facing our county as well as other developments.



We look at Natural Resources Wales, which, as the manager of our natural Welsh resources, should monitor our rivers. Its purpose is to "pursue sustainable management of natural resources” and “apply the principles of sustainable management of natural resources” as stated in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.



The proper monitoring of water quality, and the enforcement of new environmental policy is going to be key in reducing the impact of phosphates on our rivers. NRW is said to need to employ an extra 85 staff to achieve the necessary robust monitoring service, but they need the funding from Welsh Government to be able to do this. Powys County Council itself does not have the power or capacity to effect change. Homes are not being built, communities in Powys are at a standstill, and something needs to be done to support them.



The motion

1. We call on the Welsh Government to set a clear monitoring framework for river pollution.

2. We call on National Governments to accelerate funding for our monitoring bodies like NRW to allow them to monitor and enforce safe levels within our rivers.

3. Call on Welsh Water to accelerate its investment in the sewage system and their upgrade programme.