Mark Drakeford calls for better water management in Powys

Following many years of demands for the better management of the Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs, First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford  has said that he believes that there is an issue with drawing water off from those reservoirs.

“I continue to believe that there is an issue to do with drawing water off from those reservoirs, and it is understandable that people further down believe that, at times of high rainfall, if water is being discharged from the dams, then it adds to flood risk in those communities,” said Mr Drakeford.

“It does seem to me that, with the sophistication of modern forecasting, more should be done to prepare for high rainfall events. The water should be discharged not after the rainfall event but before it to create that extra capacity in Clywedog and in Vyrnwy.”

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These comments came after Montgomeryshire MS Russell George brought forward the issue in the Welsh Senedd.

Mr George said weather conditions have in the past exposed the operational arrangements and flood risk management at Clywedog and Lake Vyrnwy which has resulted in both reservoirs overflowing, the consequence of which has been downstream flooding in both areas.

Both of the reservoirs are owned and managed by Hafren Dyfrdwy, part of Severn Trent, but creating spare capacity by releasing water can only be undertaken at the request of the England-based Environment Agency.

Mr George expressed the importance that agencies on both sides of the border work together - NRW and the Environment Agency England, and UK and Welsh Governments.

“Natural Resources Wales have been involved with work looking at the possibility of enhancing Clywedog to have greater capacity in the winter months but there's also the issue of examining the draw-down times to allow water to be drawn down ahead of the winter months, to reduce the risk of flooding incidents across mid Wales,” said Mr George.

“To me, it's important that agencies on both sides of the border work together because any works or changes in arrangements that are carried out will benefit mid Wales and other areas downstream in England as well.”

“I was pleased that the First Minister recognised the issues we are facing in mid Wales, and the need for water to be discharged, not after the rainfall event, but before it to create that extra capacity in Clywedog and in Vyrnwy.”