River Taff kerosene leak: residents demand answers as slicks persist

Oily slicks of kerosene were still leaking into the River Taff in south Wales this week, five days after a breach from a GE Aerospace site in Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf, sent thousands of litres of fuel into the waterway.

The pollution was identified on Friday 16 October after members of the public reported strong chemical odours. Natural Resources Wales officers attended to trace the source, helped by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which laid absorbent mats and booms to contain the kerosene. Residents living along the river were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

NRW said about 4km (2.5 miles) of the waterway were affected. Early estimates put the volume spilled at roughly 25,000 litres, but the agency said it could not confirm how much entered the river, and declined to comment on possible enforcement action while its investigation continues.

Health warnings and a farm's concerns

Public Health Wales advised people to avoid all contact with contaminated stretches of the river, which runs alongside popular routes including the Taff Trail. Residents had complained of sinus problems and headaches. "Kerosene vapours may be mildly irritating to the respiratory system. Our current assessment is that people who can smell kerosene may experience temporary irritation, particularly if they are exposed for prolonged periods," the health body said.

Sarah Llywelyn, who lives at Glan Y Llyn downstream of the GE Aerospace facility, was among those who reported the leak. "The smell was absolutely unbelievable. My eyes burned as soon as I opened our door into the garden," she said. "What I want more than anything is for lessons to be learned. This should never happen again."

Gerwyn and Jordan Lewis of Ynysgau farm, directly opposite the main spill point, said NRW advised them the river was unsafe for animals to drink, meaning riverside areas could not be safely grazed. They said winter feed stocks could be depleted at an alarming rate and that their campsite, glamping, sauna and cold plunge businesses all sit beside the affected river.

Environmental impact

Prof Steve Ormerod of Cardiff University's Water Research Institute said photographs of the leak appeared to show kerosene still entering the water through the bunding. He said the Taff had been recovering from its polluted past, and that the incident was a potential setback for species such as salmon, dippers and kingfishers that have been recolonising the river. Kerosene, he added, risks direct toxicity to aquatic organisms and can impair gill function in fish and insects, as well as affecting feather waterproofing in birds.

An NRW spokesperson said fuel that entered the drainage system before the leak was stopped could remain within parts of that network, and that containment measures are not always able to separate all fuel from flowing water. NRW believes pollution is no longer entering the river.

GE Aerospace said the safety of its employees, neighbours and the environment remained its top priority, adding that the source was identified and isolated on the Friday and that containment and clean-up were ongoing, with specialist teams working on and off site. Its Nantgarw facility employs more than 1,350 people.

Source: The Guardian.