WQ85174 (e) Member declared an interest Tabled on 24/05/2022

Further to instruction from NRW, will the Minister explain why the results of the source apportionment exercise by Dŵr Cymru to determine the likely contributors of phosphate increases in rivers special areas of conservation that were expected in September 2021 are still outstanding, and confirm when they will be published?

Answered by Minister for Climate Change | Answered on 01/06/2022

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is working with Dŵr Cymru to quality assure the source apportionment modelling data. Whilst the assurance process has taken longer than anticipated, it is vital that Nutrient Management Boards and all interested parties have confidence in the robustness of the apportionment models when they are released. The assurance steps will help ensure that the models can be used to support decision making and drive improvements in water quality at a local, catchment scale level.