Welsh Government body managing Wales’ natural resources
The Brombil Reservoir near Neath Port Talbot has seen heavy visitor traffic after going viral on TikTok. Owners say a £2 site maintenance fee is a temporary deterrent to fund safety and environmental work; barriers on the dam face have been removed by trespassers, and all access remains restricted without prior consent. The site was bought in 2024 and remains privately managed.
The UK is facing extended heat and drought conditions as 2026 records are challenged. Met Office data shows record June heat, rising water demand, hosepipe bans, and warnings that climate-driven dryness will persist with potential for more heatwaves into August. European droughts and wildfires are linked to the same warming trend.
NRW has declared drought in North Wales and the Upper Severn as heat, low rainfall and wildfires intensify strain on rivers, groundwater and farming. Wales is set for its driest July in almost 190 years, with hosepipe bans in parts of the country and continued fire risk.
South East Water has designated John Halsall as chief executive designate amid ongoing leadership upheaval after the resignation of David Hinton. Halsall pledges short-term improvements and a 2.1 billion investment to boost reliability and resilience, as the company faces repeated outages and regulatory scrutiny.