River Wye: Environment Agency carrying out tests after reports of black oil in water
The source of pollution in the River Wye is still not known, as Mark Gough reports.
The Environment Agency is testing the water in the River Wye in Hereford after reports of an oil spill on Saturday afternoon.
An oily substance could be seen on the surface of the river over the weekend.
Local angler, Phil Gammage first discovered the suspected spill.
He said: "I could smell it first, I could smell a kerosene, oily smell and then I saw a thick, black oil substance coming out of the culvert.
"It was jet black and it was filthy and smelly. It looked horrendous."
The Environment agency has now put an oil boom and absorbent pads at the source of the pollution - a culvert at Rotherwas just outside Hereford.
Robert Fox from the Old Harp Fishery near Ross-on-Wye said he fears for the impact of the suspected spill on wildlife.
He added: "This is yet another threat, particularly to water birds and to the river banks."
Mike Mitchell, who teaches kayaking on the river, said: "You could feel the oil in the water, I tested a bit on my lips and it burnt."
"It feels really oily" - kayaking teacher tests the water in the River Wye
The Environment Agency said: "The EA are continuing to investigate this incident and our staff have attended the site three times over the holiday period."
"We are working closely with Welsh Water, and have placed an oil boom and pads to contain and absorb the spill."
An investigation by ITV Central in May 2021 found some rivers in the Midlands were carrying up to 50 times the safe level of chemicals in the water.
In September 2022, we revealed that in 2020 alone, 33 years worth of sewage was dumped into the catchment area of the River Wye, which runs through Herefordshire.
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