Afon Lwyd

Afon Lwyd Afon Llwyd
The Afon Lwyd weir and fish leap at Pontymoile. The bridge carries the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
Location
Country	Wales
Region	South East Wales
District	Torfaen
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	between Brynmawr and Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales
Discharge
• location	Caerleon
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Nant y Gollen, Nant Dar, Nant Ffrwd Oer, Trosnant

The Afon Lwyd or Afon Llwyd (English: 'grey river') is a 13-mile (21 km) long river in south-east Wales which flows from its source northwest of Blaenavon,^[1] through Abersychan, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, Llanfrechfa and Cwmbran before flowing, at Caerleon, into the River Usk, which subsequently flows into the Bristol Channel to the south of Newport.

The river was severely affected by pollution from industry and mine discharge, and fly tipping, but during the 1980s efforts were made to improve water quality and improve fish stocks. To aid this, the Environment Agency Wales built a fish ladder at Pontymoile in 2010 enabling fish to ascend past the weir there. In late 2011 it was claimed that the river was in its cleanest state since medieval times.^[2]

Historically, the river has also been known as the Torfaen – meaning 'breaker of stones' – which gives some indication of the force of the river during surges. Although this name is no longer in use for the river, it is still in common use as the name for the local authority, Torfaen County Borough Council.