1.7 million pints of beer poured down the drain
MORE than 1.7 million pints of beer have been dumped into Welsh sewers during the coronavirus lockdown, according to Welsh Water.
Lots of beer in pub cellars has gone off since pubs and bars were forced to shut in March.
However, pubs must apply for permission to local water companies to dispose of beer into the sewer.
Figures obtained from Welsh Water under Environmental Information Regulations reveal the water company approved 995,000 litres of beer to be dumped into sewers since the start of lockdown, as of June 18 – the equivalent of around 1,750,000 pints.
Welsh Water covers all of Wales, and also Herefordshire.
Cardiff has seen the most beer dumped into its sewers, with 295,964 litres or 520,824 pints.
Elsewhere in Wales, the water company approved the following amounts of beer to be disposed into sewers:
Barry – 59,016 litres or 103,854 pints;
Swansea – 55,263 litres or 97,249 pints;
Newport – 52,251 litres or 91,949 pints;
Bridgend – 33,305 litres or 58,609 pints;
Port Talbot – 29,302 litres or 51,504 pints;
Conwy – 28,981 litres or 50,999 pints;
Wrexham – 14,993 litres or 26,384 pints.
Beer dumped into sewers is then treated by one of Welsh Water’s 835 waste water treatment works.
Pubs are set to reopen in Wales on July 13, but only outdoors for now, while pubs in England reopened on July 4. Scotland opened outdoor areas on Monday.
They were first shut on March 20 at the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown.
A spokesman from Welsh Water said: “We are continuing to liaise with pubs across our operating area to let them know how they can safely dispose of their out-of-date beverages.
“We have waived all fees for the applications and discharges themselves.
“While we are keen to support these businesses in whatever way we can, as beer is potentially very polluting – we must also ensure that any disposal into the sewerage network is done in a carefully, controlled way.
“This is to ensure that there is no impact on the sewerage service we provide all our other customers and also that there is no harmful impact on the environment in our care.
“We will continue to work with these businesses to set out how and when these drinks can be disposed of safely and would remind any pubs or hospitality facilities that haven’t yet contacted us to arrange disposal to do so. We will also continue to liaise closely with Natural Resources Wales so that they are fully aware.”
A spokesperson from Natural Resources Wales, said: “Inappropriate disposal of beer poses a significant environmental risk as it’s highly polluting.
“It’s our job to protect Wales’ rivers so we’re speaking with water companies about the safe disposal of out of date beer because of lockdown.
“We’re working together to find a solution to requests for disposal to sewer that meet the industry, regulatory and environmental requirements for all parties.
“We ask that the hospitality sector contact their water company, or if not on a public sewer to contact us to find a solution to beer disposal that does harm the environment.
“Beer must not be disposed of to the sewer without permission from the relevant sewerage undertaker or water company. Beer must not be disposed of to private sewage works, septic tanks or surface water drains, as this will impact the environment.
“Nationally, water companies and regulators are also in contact with the British Beer and Pubs Association to agree on how to manage this risk.”