Yorkshire Water to commence Scarborough borehole surveys for wastewater project
Drilling to start from 7th September at multiple sites across town
Yorkshire Water is set to begin drilling boreholes throughout Scarborough starting 7th September 2026.
This drilling forms part of a comprehensive ground investigation ahead of a multimillion-pound wastewater transformation project in the town.
The boreholes, which will be drilled to a depth of 80 metres, will help the company understand ground conditions by monitoring water and gas levels in soil and rock.
Lee Shepherd, capital delivery programme manager at Yorkshire Water, explained the necessity of these surveys: "We've been surveying the ground conditions in Scarborough for a few weeks already... Now, we need to gain a better understanding of groundwater, soil, and rock, and the best way to do this is by drilling boreholes at key points in the town."
Contract partners Mott MacDonald Bentley, Socotec, and Central Alliance are planning to drill 14 boreholes at various locations, including Northstead Upper Car Park and Upper Peasholm Park, amongst others.
Drilling will begin on individual boreholes at different dates throughout the autumn and winter.
Residents near drilling sites have been contacted about localised traffic management and parking restrictions.
After drilling, the boreholes will be securely capped, with teams collecting samples over the next 12 months before filling the holes.
Yorkshire Water is considering a second wave of borehole surveys across Scarborough.
To assist affected residents, Yorkshire Water is hosting in-person events and webinars for additional information and feedback.
In-person meetings are scheduled for 9th and 23rd September, as well as 7th and 21st October in various locations, while webinars will be held throughout September and October.
Shepherd acknowledged potential disturbance stating, "Whilst we'll be working as quickly as we can and doing our best to keep disruption to a minimum..."
This transformation project forms part of Yorkshire Water’s £8.3 billion investment programme aimed at improving customer service and upgrading infrastructure by 2030.