Ogof Pont Gam sewage pollution

Stuart France

Active member
Not exactly **** hot news any more, but cavers visiting this cave in the Clydach Gorge in mid Feb doing the through trip to Ogof Nant Rhin reported nasty sewage smells in the upper part of the cave and could not recommend anyone else visiting it as things stood then.

More info on the http://dev.chelseaspelaeo.org/news.htm page

I'd like to hear from anyone else please who's been in the cave during 2017 as to when the problem arose or went away.

Incidentally, these are the caves that are about to be closed off from March for 3 months for the construction of the upper level split level carriageways of the new dualled A465.  It's right next to the Welsh Water sewage works for Brynmawr and not that far from where contractors carried out explosives tests in preparation to shift surface rock in bulk to create the new road.  I'm not suggesting for a moment there is any connection between any of that - we just don't know right now where the sewage smell came from or why.

Thanks

Stuart France
Cambrian Caving Council
 

Stuart France

Active member
I have reported the sewage incident to NRW, which now has the Environment Agency role in Wales, and they said they would contact Welsh Water about it.  I'm waiting for news.

Likewise, it is appropriate for NRW to inform Costain about it.  Dr Peter Smith who carried out the safeguarding process in the local caves during the explosives tests for split carriageway construction has already picked up on this problem.

Stuart France
Cambrian Caving Council
 

Cavebaby88

New member
Have Costain been informed of this yet?

If not I can pass in the information to the relevant management first thing Monday morning however I am on site tomorrow
 

John S

Member
Costain are in the loop. They were in contact with Peter Smith and thus myself as to the way forward to monitor and find the source of the problem. As we have been monitoring the bats in the caves of the gorge.
Peter had been in Ogof Nant Rhin on 10 Feb, just before this problem emerged in mid Feb.
 
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