Long-term plans to remove surface water from the sewer network are being drawn up by utility chiefs, but they stressed it has to be affordable. Steve Wilson, Welsh Water's managing director of wastewater services, said doing so was its biggest challenge in the coming years as climate change led to periods of more intense rainfall, which causes surface water flooding.
During these events a mixture of surface water and sewage is frequently sent through storm overflow pipes into rivers and the sea, affecting water quality. In extreme cases it can overwhelm the network and flood homes and businesses.
Addressing a meeting of Swansea councillors and other public sector representatives, Mr Wilson said the "dreaded storm overflows are operating more frequently than we would like". He added that there was now a requirement for water companies in Wales and England to plan long-term to manage drainage and wastewater, as they have done for decades in resource terms to ensure there was enough water to go round and accommodate growth.
