Plaid Cymru has called for urgent investment in water infrastructure following this summer's supply problems in Mid and South Ceredigion and the wider Teifi Valley.

A hosepipe ban affecting around 33,000 properties across Mid and South Ceredigion, North Pembrokeshire and North Carmarthenshire was in force from 19 July until 4 September 2026. Dŵr Cymru said the restrictions were driven by exceptionally high demand during this summer's heatwaves, rather than low reservoir levels. Several burst pipes also left many households experiencing periods without any water supply.

Ceredigion Penfro's Plaid Cymru Senedd Members say the problem is not new. Documents relating to the South/Mid Ceredigion Water Supply Scheme in 2005 identified supply shortfalls and anticipated rising demand over the following 25 years. The same supply zone was placed in 'Developing Drought' status in June 2025.

Notably, the Mid and South Ceredigion supply zone was the only area in Wales subject to a hosepipe ban during summer 2026, despite Dŵr Cymru confirming that the restrictions were driven by demand and network pressures rather than a shortage of water resources. This raises further questions about the resilience of the local water infrastructure.

Ceredigion Penfro MS, Anna Nicholl said: "The disruption experienced by communities across south Ceredigion this year has understandably caused real frustration. Access to a reliable water supply is a basic necessity, yet people were left dealing with interruptions and uncertainty.

"Climate change is undoubtedly accelerating the pressures facing water networks, with changing weather patterns placing additional strain on systems that were designed decades ago. However, the need to strengthen water infrastructure in west Wales has been recognised for a very long time. It’s time for water companies to act.

"Communities in rural Wales deserve confidence that essential services are resilient, reliable and fit for the future."

Ceredigion Penfro MS, Kerry Ferguson added: "The events of this year raise legitimate questions about whether sufficient investment has been made to ensure the network can meet modern demand.

"People living in south Ceredigion and north Pembrokeshire are entitled to ask why they are still experiencing these kinds of problems when the need for infrastructure improvements was identified more than two decades ago.

"Urgent and sustained investment must be targeted where vulnerabilities exist and where communities are most exposed to disruption.

"Plaid Cymru is committed to tackling climate change while ensuring Wales has the resilient public infrastructure needed to protect communities for generations to come."