Wales | Company donates £150,000 to local rivers trust after polluting a Cardiff river

July 11, 2025

Natural Resources Wales | A company responsible for polluting Llanishen Brook and Roath Park Lake in Cardiff has agreed to donate £150,000 to a local environmental charity, following an enforcement undertaking secured by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

The payment by Erith Contractors Ltd to the South East Wales Rivers Trust will support the delivery of projects aimed at conservation and restoration of river habitats across South Wales.

The case began when a member of the public reported foul-smelling grey water in Llanishen Brook to NRW on 28 September 2023.

NRW’s officers investigated and traced the source of the pollution to groundwork taking place at the former HMRC tax office site as part of preparations to demolish high-rise buildings.

A demolition crew had damaged a main sewer line, causing raw sewage to discharge into a tributary of Llanishen Brook, which ended up in Roath Park Lake.

Working closely with staff from Erith Contractors Ltd and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, NRW officers ensured that the damaged sewer was repaired and the pollution contained later that same day.

As part of the enforcement undertaking, Erith Contractors Ltd accepted full responsibility for the incident and committed to funding local environmental improvements through South East Wales Rivers Trust.

Following the incident, NRW continues to monitor and assess the brook and lake for any long-term environmental impacts. NRW has also advised Erith Contractors Ltd to take extra precautions during future work to avoid similar incidents.

An enforcement undertaking is a form of civil sanction available to NRW under the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. It allows companies to make amends for environmental offences by contributing to projects that directly benefit the environment.

— Accurate at time of publication | June 2025

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