30th June 2010: LLANISHEN RESERVOIR HALF EMPTY AND LISVANE RESERVOIR DISAPPEARING FAST.

Western Power completed their drain down of the top three metres of Llanishen reservoir some weeks ago, and are now waiting to see if the Environment Agency will grant them a discharge consent which will allow them to drain off the remaining water.  It seems criminal that all this pure water can just be wasted after the driest spring since 1976. The adjacent Lisvane reservoir is beginning to suffer as water is being removed under an abstraction licence to provide 'grey water' to industries in Cardiff Bay faster than it is being replaced.  The entire flow of the Nant Fawr is being re-directed into Lisvane reservoir in an effort to stop the latter emptying, leading to concerns about the low flow rate in the river downstream.  We have contacted the Environment Agency about the situation and they share our concerns.  They are monitoring the situation carefully.  In the past, when Lisvane reservoir was at risk of drying out, water was pumped from the adjacent Llanishen reservoir into Lisvane.  If Western Power's plans to empty Llanishen reservoir come to fruition, this option will not be available, and the Lisvane reservoir SSSI will also be placed in jeopardy.  We expect to the Environment Agency to make a decision regarding the discharge consent in mid-July.