Image Source: Ross Mather via People's Collection Wales
Oggy Bloggy Ogwr doesn’t receive any subsidy and isn’t funded by the BBC. If you like what I’m doing here and think this work is important in keeping locals informed of what’s happening in Bridgend, consider a donation. Â One-off or monthly; as little or as much as you want. Click the links below, or full details are available here.
Bridgend Council’s Communities, Environment & Housing Scrutiny Committee will discuss a report on monitoring and improving bathing water quality along the coast (pdf).
The good news is that all three monitored beaches in Porthcawl (Rest Bay, Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay) achieved “excellent” ratings from Natural Resources Wales for both 2024 and 2025.
Four more beaches in the Porthcawl area are not designated for bathing water testing.
While Ogmore-by-Sea lies within the Vale of Glamorgan, since 2023, it’s been recorded as “poor”, with the public advised not to bathe.
Natural Resources Wales is still investigating the cause of the poor water quality as part of a joint task force with Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan councils. Though it’s long been suspected – though never officially confirmed – to be linked to the nearby Pen-y-bont Treatment Works (which is within Bridgend county).
The catchment area of the Ogmore and Ewenny rivers is also quite large and includes urban and agricultural areas generating a lot of run-off.
Natural Resources Wales is preparing a business case for a full range of measures to improve water quality at Ogmore-by-Sea. Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water have also finished upgrades at the Pen-y-bont Works, including additional stormwater storage capacity.
The report has also likely come too soon to address the serious pollution incident at the River Kenfig over the last few weeks, caused by a discharge tied to sewer replacement works.
