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Water in Wales
The Welsh Government is responsible the strategic policy for water in Wales. This includes water companies entirely or mostly in Wales which are Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy, Ofwat, Natural Resources Wales, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and local authorities.

Natural Resources Wales is the body responsible for regulating and managing water resources in Wales.

Establishment of Natural Resources Wales
On 01 April 2013, Natural Resources Wales took over the responsibilities of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales. Since 2013, Natural Resources Wales states that it has established a standalone capability and has developed its own systems that are appropriate for Wales.

State of Water (2022)

 * All designated bathing waters in Wales except one met the Bathing Waters Directive standards in 2016
 * 63% of freshwater water bodies did not reach the good or better overall status in 2015 (defined by the Water Framework Directive)
 * Pollutants from metal mines have an impact on 700 kilometres of rivers in Wales with nine of the ten worst polluted catchments in the UK

Water industry ownership
The Welsh government has decided not to pursue deregulation of the water industry, except for large industrial users that consume over 50 million litres of water annually.

Penal Laws content save

Penal laws applied to the Welsh
In early 1401, multiple anti-Welsh statutes and ordinances were passed with more being added in 1402. These later become known as the Penal Laws.

The penal laws applied to the Welsh in 1402 were:


 * Englishman shall not be convict[ed] by Welshman in Wales (this included Welsh through marriage);
 * Against wasters minstrels etc. in Wales ("Item, to eschew many diseases and mischiefs, which have happened before this time in the land of Wales…: it is ordained and stablished that no waster, rhymer, minstrel nor vagabond be in any wise sustained in the land of Wales…")
 * Against congregations in Wales (public meetings were banned)
 * Welshmen shall not be armed ("no Welshman be armed nor bear defensible armour")
 * No victual or armour shall be carried into Wales (it was banned for an Englishman to carry armour to Wales or a Welshman to possess such items of battle)
 * Welshmen shall not have castles etc (only the castles from the time of Edward I were allowed to be used)
 * No Welshman shall bear office ("Justice, Chamberlain, Chancellor, Treasurer, Sheriff, Steward, Constable of Castle, Receiver, Escheator, Coroner, nor Chief Forester nor any other Officer, nor Keeper of the Records, nor Lieutenant in any of the said Offices in no part of Wales, nor of the Council of any English lord…")

In 1431, 1433 and 1471 the English Parliament insisted upon re-asserting the Penal Laws.

Discrimination and psychological effect
Welsh historian, RR Davies said English and Welsh people "were now formally and legally separated from one another, to the disadvantage of the Welsh, in a way which had not been so before, at least legislatively and on a country-wide basis." Davies adds that the laws were possibly more effective as psychological propaganda, rather than in practical application. Welsh historian Martin Johnes also says that the laws were rarely implemented, but symbolised how there was no ethnic equality between the English and the Welsh.

The laws weighed heavily on the Welsh and restricted them from living a complete life. This caused significant ill-feeling among the Welsh people and restricted nobles in Wales from improving their standing, unable to get a job in their local municipality. Historian Glanmor Williams says that the laws were a reminder to the Welsh of their inferiority and insecurity despite multiple exemptions. The laws stayed on the statute book and were resented by the Welsh people. Adam of Usk says that the laws were "harsh" English decrees against Anglo-Welsh marriage.

Welshmen find ways around laws
Some Welshmen had the English parliament declare themselves English so that they were able to achieve higher office. Despite this, in everyday life, people were able to overcome racial hierarchy in trade and marriage. In the century following the laws, the Welsh Marches were lawless to a degree which allowed Welsh gentry to hold junior positions of responsibility across Wales, despite the penal laws. Although their lands grew, their second class identity however, remained. Some English nobles intermarried with Welsh women and internalised a Welsh identity, suggesting Wales had a complex colonial identity. There was a growing sense of a denial of social opportunity for the Welsh and governance remained unorganised.

According to Welsh barrister Thomas Glyn Watkin, despite the periodic reimposing of the laws, some Welshmen served the English crown with grants opening a path to wealth and social standing in Wales and at court and English king, Henry VII gave relief to those loyal to him via denizenship (gaining some rights including to hold land), but did not end the Penal laws.

Rebellion
Phil Carradice says that the laws of English domination encouraged more men to join in the Welsh Revolt, led by Owain Glyndŵr. This view is also suggested by author Jon Gower, who says that the Penal Laws of 1401-1402 banned the Welsh people from gaining land or property across the border, or from making fortifications to their own houses, or bearing arms or congregating in mass numbers or encouraging bards. He says that these laws only encouraged the Welsh to revolt. The laws encouraged more Welsh citizens to support Glyndŵr's revolt with Welsh labourers, students and nobles leaving England to support the cause. According to historian Geraint Jenkins, the racist penal code of 1401-2 applied subordinate, second-class citizen status to the Welsh and there were no new rebellions against the English crown. A deep sense of anger remained, but hope of a united independent Wales led by a native Welsh prince had faded away. Jenkins says that English administrators reminded the Welsh of the price to pay for rebellion against the Crown.

Modern interpretations
Author, Gareth Elwyn Jones says that the Penal laws sought an apartheid system with historian Martin Johnes also using the term for the system which the Penal Laws brought about.

Politician, Adam Price has also described the punitive laws as introducing a system of racial discrimination equal to apartheid, and suggests that the memory of the race laws have been affected by a collective amnesia.

Lifting of laws
Welsh people negotiated for and purchased charters from 1504-1507 to lift some dues, Bondmen were enfranchised and tenure of land was allowed via fee simple or fee tail. There remained doubt about their legal validity.

Many were relieved by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 which was perceived to end the discriminatory system. However, it was not until 1621, when Welsh MP James Perrot of Pembrokeshire moved a Bill which sought to more systematically remove obsolete acts from the statute books. These included 14 penal laws against the Welsh people by Henry IV of England. Although this had been promised to the Welsh in 1536, laws were not expunged from the statue books until 1624.

This is an overview of Water bodies and their regulation in Wales.

Responsibility
Water quality, water resources and river management are the responsibility of Natural Resources Wales. Issues relating to the water industry in general are devolved to the Senedd. This is however subject to the reservations in Schedule 7A to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (GoWA 2006). Natural Resources Wales is responsible for managing water resources in Wales and is the regulatory body for this purpose. On 01 April 2013, Natural Resources Wales took over the responsibilities of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales. Since 2013, Natural Resources Wales states that it has established a standalone capability and has developed its own systems that are appropriate for Wales.

State of Water

 * All designated bathing waters in Wales except one met the Bathing Waters Directive standards in 2016
 * 63% of freshwater water bodies in Wales did not meet the overall status of good or better in 2015 (defined by the Water Framework Directive)
 * Pollutants from metal mines have impacted 700 kilometres of rivers in Wales with nine out of the ten worst polluted catchments in the UK affected

Water industry ownership
The Welsh government has decided not to pursue deregulation of the water industry, except for large industrial users that consume over 50 million litres of water annually.

Olympics
In terms of medals won per population head, an alternative table includes countries that have won a minimum of one gold medal, Welsh athletes come second in the world (behind New Zealand only) based on medals per capita. Welsh athletes won more medals per head than any other country or region in the UK, at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games
Sport has been described as Wales' most significant platform, internationally. Wales competes separately, alongside other Home Nations, at the Commonwealth Games, with such representation said to give visibility to Wales internationally. Professor Stead stated in reference to the 1958 Commonwealth Games, "It was only as a result of the success of the Wales team in these Games, that the government was finally forced to officially recognise the Red Dragon as the flag of Wales." Stead stated that the games "give Wales a sense of confidence in our own identity, starting a process which led to the establishment of the National Assembly, and which is still ongoing today". The Commonwealth Games are one of the competitions where Wales can compete on an international level.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the Welsh delegation achieved its most successful medal count in any Commonwealth Games up to that point. Winning 36 medals, including five gold, eleven silver and 20 bronze. In 2022, Wales finished eighth with 28 medals.

Opposition to Great Britain sport teams
There has been opposition to a 'Team GB' delegation in specific Olympic sports, such as football and rugby sevens and there is very little active support in Wales for a UK football team.

The FAW and some fans criticised a Great Britain Olympic football team for the 2012 Olympics over fears it would impact Wales' status and identity as an individual nation in international football. Gareth Bale attracted criticism from the FAW and some fans when wearing a GB shirt, whereas Aaron Ramsey declared he would not be part of any such Olympic GB football team. Rugby sevens winger Lloyd Lewis stated a GB Rugby Sevens team would impact Welsh players' opportunities with more competition. The GB team competed previously in 2021 due to funding cuts, with the decision for a GB team at the 2023 World Sevens Series agreed by the Welsh Rugby Union.

Other sources
Scottish sports commentator for ESPN, Derek Rae has advocated for the countries of the UK to have their own national Olympic football teams, saying "In our sport, ENG, SCO, NI & Wales are separate entities."

"Y Chwyldro" ("The revolution") has also supported an independent Wales with its own Olympic Team.

Paula Radcliffe has supported Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland having their own national teams for international competitions.

The political party Gwlad and Welsh Football Fans for Independence have supported the proposals for a Welsh Olympic team.

A Senedd petition for a Wales national Olympic team by 2012 was created by Dr Geraint Tudur, previously of Bangor and at the time, the general secretary of the Union. Tudur stated, "We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to ensure that a team from Wales competes in the 2012 Olympic Games and every subsequent game thereafter.” The petition received 50 signatures by 21 August 2008.

Welsh independence supporters that need better citations

 * Kevin Allen (director) - Former actor, now director.
 * Matthew Rhys - Welsh actor.
 * Gruff Rhys - Welsh musician and Super Furry Animals lead singer.
 * Beti George - Welsh broadcaster.
 * Llŷr Ifans - Welsh actor best known for Twin Town.
 * Gwenno Saunders - Welsh singer and musician.
 * Cian Ciaran - Welsh musician, producer and Super Furry Animals member.
 * Richard Mylan - Welsh actor.
 * Catrin Dafydd - Welsh author, scriptwriter and poet.
 * Dewi "Pws" Morris - Edward H. Dafis singer and Grand Slam (1978 film) actor.
 * Dr John Ball - Economist.

Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales (Tywysoges Cymru) was a title held by the spouse of the native Prince of Wales before its current use as the title of the spouse of the heir apparent to the British throne, and Prince of Wales.

The last native Princess of Wales was Eleanor de Montfort, following the killing of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd by English soldiers. The first English Prince of Wales was then appointed heir apparent of the English crown was appointed after Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was killed. The title has also been retroactively used for the spouse of native Prince of Wales Owain Glyndwr, who later led the Welsh Revolt against English rule in Wales. The current title-holder is Catherine, wife of William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent of the British monarchy.

== Dams in Wales ==