Residents in five Pontycymer households, located in Bridgend county, are facing potential prosecution if they fail to cover the significant costs of repairing a leaking shared water pipe. The residents claim Welsh Water has informed them that the repair, which could involve replacing the existing rear pipe with a new front-of-property connection for each home, could cost each household more than £7,000.
The dispute, which some residents say has been ongoing for over two years, centres on the ownership and responsibility for the pipe. Welsh Water maintains that the pipe is privately owned and managed by the property owners, not the utility company. However, the company has offered to assist by providing a free connection to their main line if each property connects individually, and a contribution towards the cost of running a new pipe from the properties to the main.
A major point of contention for the Garw Valley locals is the alleged lack of evidence regarding the leak's location. Resident Nerys Walters highlighted that without this crucial information, insurance companies are refusing to pay out, leaving residents to shoulder the entire burden. She described the situation as a "nightmare" that has caused considerable stress, particularly given quotes from contractors exceeding £1,000 per metre for the required work.
The residents have reportedly been given until the end of July 2026 to resolve the issue, with the threat of prosecution looming if the repairs are not undertaken. Eddie Wood, an 86-year-old resident who has lived on the row for over three decades, expressed his deep concern and sleepless nights over the situation, noting the difficulty of fighting a large organisation at his age and with reduced income.
Bridgend councillor Martyn Jones has voiced his support for the residents, describing their predicament as "distressing." Councillor Jones stated he had met with a Welsh Water engineer but claimed he had not yet seen any evidence proving the householders' liability. He urged Welsh Water to reconsider its stance, particularly concerning financially vulnerable residents, questioning how many others in the Garw Valley and beyond might be susceptible to similar situations and emphasising that enforcement and prosecution should be a last resort.