A LEAK from a septic tank, which residents said was causing pollution and a ‘worrying’ health and safety problem has been resolved, according to the University of Wales Trinity St David.
The leak, which originated from a septic tank attached to the Children’s Crèche at the Carmarthen campus, began in February, according to Mark Chappell, a landlord who owns a property in Ash Grove which backs onto the site.
Mr Chappell told The Herald that works started then to turn a field into extra parking space led to a ditch being dug near the boundary between the back of Ash Grove and the raised area of hard standing.
He said that there was a strong smell of sewage in the garden of his house – something that still lingered when we visited on Saturday (May 14).
The ditch also bore traces of what appeared to be green dye, commonly used to find leaks in tanks and water mains, which indicated that tests had previously been carried out.
Mr Chappell said that he had contacted the National Rivers Authority and UWTSD, but had not received a reply at the time of going to press.
Former Carmarthenshire County Councillor Arthur Davies was told about the problem by another resident: “I find it extraordinary that this sewage pollution from the Children’s Crèche at the University of Wales St. David’s has been allowed to continue since February,” he told us.
“This is important as it is polluting the watercourse which also runs through another adjoining estate, Burgess Meadows where often small children play!
“Not only is this sewage seepage causing water pollution but also it is polluting the surrounding air causing a worrying health and safety problem with the two neighbours who are suffering with ‘unexplainable’ headaches.”
A UWTSD spokesperson said: “There has been an issue with the septic tank serving the creche. Remedial works, which have been agreed with Carmarthenshire Council’s County Environmental Health Officer have been carried out and we believe that the issue has been resolved.
“Sampling has been carried out on the water in the surface water ditch and the analysis results are awaited. These will be shared with the Environmental Health Officer and a decision made in conjunction with him as to whether the work carried out has resolved the issue.
“Should the Environmental Health Officer require further works, these will be carried out within any agreed timescale by the University.
It was stressed that no risk was posed to children attending the Nursery, or to staff there:
“The issue is some 60m away from the Nursery, which is bounded by a boarded fence and at no time was there any chance of any contact with staff or children. The Nursery Manager is aware of the situation,” the spokesperson added.
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