Fuel leak spreads more than two miles along River Taff — SkimNews
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- Natural Resources Wales located the source of a kerosene pollution incident in the River Taff at 19:30 BST on Friday and told residents up to 25,000 litres of fuel had entered the river, spreading almost 2.5 miles (4km) through Nantgarw, Treforest, Taffs Well and other locations.
- South Wales Fire and Rescue Service deployed specialist equipment alongside NRW officers to install collection gear and reduce kerosene entering the river, with absorbent materials also deployed to contain the leak.
- Public Health Wales advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed, avoid contact with the water, and call NHS 111 if they felt unwell due to fumes residents compared to "a petrol station."
- Gareth Llewelyn, a former hazardous materials environmental protection officer with South Wales Fire and Rescue, said there was "no quick fix" and the river would need "years not months" to restore, reporting that all fish had died and "no animals, no birds" remained near Taff's Well.
- NRW said the pollution was discharging from an underground surface water drainage system near the GE factory site in Taff's Well, and is collecting water samples to assess the actual environmental impact; GE has been asked to comment.
- Resident Eurig Thomas said the river had "a shiny sheen on it" and the smell hit "as soon as you came out," though NRW reported the smell had since died down and fuel flow had reduced significantly.
Why it matters: A former hazmat officer's warning that recovery will take "years not months" — combined with a reported total wildlife kill in a village literally named after the river — points to a long-tail cleanup and reputational cost for the unnamed polluter and the adjacent GE site, while nearby residents face ongoing health advisories until NRW confirms the discharge has fully stopped.
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