There are plans to work on a new national water strategy for Wales for the next 25 years, replacing a document published in 2015.
Water companies’ ability to self-monitor and report their performance in areas such as minimising pollution will also be reviewed, “recognising there are concerns about the robustness of these systems”.
Steps to “provide greater assurance” could include more automation and inspections.
Tougher controls over the spreading of sewage and septic tank sludge to land as fertiliser in farming are also proposed, as are limits on using digestate from anaerobic digestion plants.
Afonydd Cymru said it was “particularly encouraged” by this proposal, with inappropriate spreading of this material among the “chief contributors to high nutrient levels in Welsh rivers” as well as causing “specific, catastrophic incidents”.
Chief executive Gail Davies-Walsh said, overall, the government’s proposals were welcome, offering “significant potential to effect positive change for rivers”.