Resources & Downloads

 

This section will continue to grow as we develop.

 

Here you will find guidance, reports, useful links and downloadable resources covering river health, pollution reporting, community science, environmental legislation and practical ways to help protect the River Teifi.

 

The evidence is already compelling. Scientific studies, monitoring programmes, regulatory assessments and community observations all tell a consistent story about the challenges facing the Teifi. We will bring together many of the key reports and resources in one place because informed action starts with trusted evidence. Restoring the River Teifi will depend not on producing more reports, but on acting decisively on the evidence we already have.

 

The Teifi should be treated as natural infrastructure: a living system supporting biodiversity, public water supply, health and wellbeing, recreation, tourism, farming, culture, community identity and the regional economy. The evidence base must therefore be wider than any single plan, pollutant or sector. The August 2025 Afon Teifi Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) is a key strategic document and an important source of truth for phosphorus source apportionment, mitigation planning and catchment governance. It sits alongside NRW ecological and SAC evidence, Dŵr Cymru asset and EDM data, environmental permits, agricultural and land-use evidence, public-health science, fisheries data, tourism/economic evidence, climate and water-resource evidence, and local observations.

The River Teifi doesn't need another report. It needs action.

 

Afon Teifi Nutrient Management Board Afon - Teifi Nutrient Management Plan - August 2025

 

Executive Summary 

 

The Afon Teifi Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) has been prepared by Arcadis on behalf of the Teifi Nutrient Management Board (NMB) to restore the River Teifi Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to favourable ecological condition by reducing phosphorus pollution while also enabling sustainable development across the catchment. The plan is intended to be a living document that will evolve as new evidence becomes available.

 

The challenge 

 

The River Teifi is one of Wales' most important rivers, stretching 122 km through a catchment of over 1,000 km² before entering Cardigan Bay. It supports internationally important wildlife, public water supplies, farming, tourism and recreation. However, excessive phosphorus is preventing many parts of the SAC from meeting ecological targets.

The plan identifies that phosphorus comes from multiple sources, principally:

  • Wastewater treatment works and sewage infrastructure.
  • Agricultural diffuse pollution, including slurry and nutrient runoff.
  • Smaller contributions from urban runoff and private sewerage systems.

Key findings

 

The NMP concludes that no single solution will restore the Teifi. Instead, improvements must be targeted at priority sub-catchments through coordinated action by Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, local authorities, farmers, developers, businesses and communities.

 

The plan divides the catchment into 11 priority sub-catchments to focus investment where it will deliver the greatest environmental benefit.

 

Priority actions 

 

The report identifies several high-priority interventions:

  • Enhanced wastewater treatment, including tertiary phosphorus removal using ferric dosing, enhanced biological phosphorus removal, electrocoagulation and other technologies.
  • Constructed wetlands, reedbeds and willow systems.
  • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
  • Agricultural measures including improved nutrient management, riparian buffers, soil management, livestock exclusion, woodland creation and wetland restoration.
  • Upgrades to private sewerage systems where appropriate.

Wastewater investment 

 

The report notes that Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is implementing phosphorus reduction schemes during AMP investment, including tightened discharge permits and the introduction of 5 mg/L backstop phosphorus permits at some wastewater treatment works. These represent an important first step but are part of a wider package of measures needed to restore the river.

 

Overall conclusion 

 

The Nutrient Management Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for improving the River Teifi. Its central message is that restoring the river requires catchment-wide action, with wastewater and agricultural pollution addressed together, supported by monitoring, partnership working and adaptive management. Success will depend not only on delivering the proposed measures but also on sustained investment, collaboration and accountability across all sectors.