Yorkshire Water begins £2.2m storm overflow reduction projects in North Yorkshire
Initiative part of £1.5bn programme to improve water infrastructure
Yorkshire Water has launched five projects in North Yorkshire aimed at decreasing the frequency and number of storm overflow discharge. The £2.2 million investment forms part of a broader £1.5 billion programme set to enhance storm overflow operations between 2025 and 2030 and improve water infrastructure in the region.
The projects in Weeton, Wass, Snape, Myton-on-Swale, and Great Barugh involve relining sections of the combined sewer network to minimise groundwater infiltration, thereby reducing the likelihood of storm overflow discharges triggered during heavy rainfall.
Liam Thomas, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our storm overflows are operating more often than we, and our customers, would like, and we’re going to be continuing our hard work into bringing the number of discharges down over the next five years. We already have a number of projects underway in Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Barnsley – some of which are almost finished and delivering benefits for the environment - so it’s exciting to begin to make headway in the North of the county too.”
“This is a significant and challenging programme of works, but one that’s vitally important for health of watercourses across the region, and one that we are absolutely committed to.”
Over the next few months, additional storm overflow projects will begin in Acklam, Hebden, Malham, Sheriff Hutton, Bishop Monkton, and Skeeby.
Storm overflows serve as relief valves for the combined sewer network during periods of capacity strain, preventing flooding by discharging excess flow. Yorkshire Water plans to reduce the need for storm overflows by constructing new surface water sewers, storage tanks, nature-based solutions, and sustainable drainage systems.