East Yorkshire sewage concerns raised by campaigner

A campaigner has expressed concerns about ongoing sewage discharges into East Yorkshire watercourses, highlighting Atwick Wastewater Treatment Works as a key site of pollution.

The campaigner, who has been documenting aquatic environments for 35 years, described witnessing continuous sewage discharge into a beck at Atwick during a visit to the area. According to Yorkshire Water’s live sewage map, discharges began on 6th January 2026 and persisted for 26 days.

“It was only under exceptional weather circumstances that sewage should enter a watercourse when I first started filming. Now, it has changed to heavy rain,” the campaigner said, raising concerns about the impact of pollution on aquatic life.

Yorkshire Water response

Yorkshire Water acknowledged the discharges, explaining that the Atwick site deals with high flows of surface water from a culvert in the village during periods of heavy rain.

“These flows can lead to greater volumes than the treatment works can handle. As a result, discharges occur into the nearby watercourse,” Yorkshire Water said. The company added that the discharges help protect local properties during prolonged rainfall while the catchment drains.

Yorkshire Water confirmed plans to invest in a new sewer system to separate wastewater from surface water. The company stated this project would “dramatically reduce storm overflow operations from Atwick treatment works in the future,” but did not provide specific timescales for the investment.

Broader concerns and action needed

The campaigner also highlighted the wider issue of sewage pollution across Yorkshire’s rivers and streams, encountering pollutants such as wipes and sanitary items during dives.

Yorkshire Water reported 430,262 hours of sewage discharges into watercourses in the year 2024, data which the campaigner described as “unacceptable.”

Efforts are being made to educate the public about aquatic life in local watercourses and raise awareness of the pollution's impact.