Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has welcomed the publication of the Welsh Government’s Green Paper setting out proposals for the future governance of water in Wales.
Ceri Davies, Interim Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales said:
“This is an important opportunity to look at how we manage this vital resource and how the system can evolve to meet the challenges of climate change, environmental pressures and increasing demand. A strong, modern and resilient approach to water management is essential if we are to protect our rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal waters for future generations.
“As Wales’ environmental regulator, safeguarding the water environment, ensuring sustainable water resources and supporting resilient ecosystems remain central to our role. We recognise that improvement across the system is needed, and we look forward to contributing evidence-based advice to support greater transparency, long-term investment and increased public confidence.
“We will continue to maintain robust regulatory oversight throughout this process, including our monitoring, enforcement and evidence work, so the people of Wales can have confidence that environmental standards are upheld.
“We are committed to working constructively with water companies, partners, stakeholders and the public as these proposals are explored, and I encourage everyone with an interest in Wales’ water environment to engage with the consultation and help shape a future system that works for both people and nature.”
Contextual Summary: NRW Green Paper statement vs Ynys & Cembach reality
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has publicly welcomed the Welsh Government’s Green Paper on the future governance of water in Wales, presenting the consultation as an opportunity to strengthen transparency, resilience, environmental protection and public confidence in how water resources are managed.
In its statement, NRW emphasises:
its role as Wales’ environmental regulator,
a commitment to safeguarding rivers, wetlands, groundwater and floodplains,
the importance of robust regulatory oversight, monitoring and enforcement,
and the need to maintain public confidence that environmental standards are upheld.
However, when these claims are set against events at the Ynys floodplain and Cembach Community Wetland in March 2023, a significant gap emerges between NRW’s stated principles and its actions on the ground.
Contradiction with the Ynys and Cembach dumping
In March 2023, tarmac planings and construction waste were deposited on:
the Ynys floodplain, and
the Cembach Community Wetland,
both of which function as natural water storage and flood attenuation areas and align precisely with the kind of nature-based water management NRW says it exists to protect.
Despite this:
NRW was aware of the works,
no immediate enforcement action was taken,
no public evidence was provided of permits or exemptions,
and no effective remediation has been required to restore the wetland or floodplain to its previous condition.
This directly undermines NRW’s claim that it maintains “robust regulatory oversight” and raises questions about how “environmental standards are upheld” when the damage is caused by a local authority rather than a private operator.
RCT Council and governance failure
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council (RCTC), which carried out or facilitated the works:
is the Lead Local Flood Authority,
holds land interests in the area,
and benefits from the flood risk infrastructure the wetland provided.
This creates a clear governance conflict: the body responsible for protecting flood risk and water environments was also responsible for damaging one. NRW’s failure to intervene reinforces concerns that public bodies are not regulated with the same rigour as others.
Ministerial oversight and public confidence
NRW’s statement stresses the importance of public confidence and transparency. Yet the lack of visible action or ministerial intervention following the Ynys and Cembach dumping has had the opposite effect locally.
Oversight of NRW ultimately rests with the Welsh Government Minister for the Environment / Climate Change, but:
no independent investigation has been ordered,
no directive has been issued requiring restoration,
and no explanation has been provided as to why a community wetland and floodplain could be degraded without consequence.
This silence sits uneasily alongside Welsh Government policy promoting wetlands, floodplain reconnection and climate resilience.
The wider implication
NRW’s support for reforming water governance implicitly acknowledges that the current system is not delivering. The Ynys and Cembach case illustrates precisely why reform is being discussed:
weak accountability,
blurred responsibilities between councils and regulators,
and a regulatory culture that appears reluctant to challenge other public bodies.
Bottom line
NRW’s Green Paper statement speaks the language of strong regulation, environmental protection and public trust. The March 2023 dumping at the Ynys floodplain and Cembach Community Wetland demonstrates how far current practice falls short of those commitments.
For communities affected by flooding and environmental damage, the issue is no longer about future governance models — it is about why existing powers were not used when they mattered most.
