PEOPLE living in a Gwendraeth Valley village should check their domestic oil tanks for leaks after oil was smelt in a nearby stream.

Natural Resources Wales has issued an urgent notice for residents of Cefneithin who have domestic oil tanks to check them for leaks ‘as a matter of urgency.’

It comes today – Friday, October 27 – after a number of reports of a strong fuel smell coming from a stream in the Heol y Parc area of the village.

The Carmarthenshire Environment Team’s officers have made efforts to find the source of the pollution but have not been able to locate it so far, which has led officers to believe it may be coming from a domestic oil tank.

During their efforts over a number of times this week, the officers have deployed a boom to the Gwendraeth Fawr to help contain the pollutant and will be visiting the site regularly to carry out checks on the boom and the river.

James Slowgrove, NRW’s Carmarthenshire environment officer, said: “We’re urging residents to help us find the source of this pollution and check their oil tanks urgently.

“If there is an unexplained drop in the level of oil in the tank, or they spot signs of spilled oil around the tank, please get in touch with the Carmarthenshire Environment Team via our incident hotline immediately by calling 0300 065 3000.

“The sooner we can locate the source, the sooner we can stop the spill.”

If a spill or leak is found, these are the steps to follow:

  • Stop the flow at the source by turning off the tap. Try to find the source of the leak and reduce the flow, using sand to absorb any oil spilt on the ground.
  • Notify the Carmarthenshire Environment Team on 0300 065 3000.
  • Notify your insurance provider.
  • Make sure any repairs are made by an Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) registered engineer.