Ewenny River - Pollution

Pollution

Historically, the river meandered among moors and wetlands, frequently flooding, but with wide biodiversity. Being south of the South Wales coalfield, no mining-related industrialisation and pollution affected the river. However, in the 20th century, despite being away from urban areas, industrial plants sprung up along the river. During the early 1970s a long stretch of meandering river through lowland meadows was canalised and lined with vertical steel piles in order to protect the developing site of the Ford engine plant from flooding. Unfortunately, these diversion projects degraded the river slightly. On October 22, 2010, 20,000 litres of diesel escaped into the river. After a cleanup effort, the Environment Agency found the source of the leak.