Water firm's plan to cut storm discharges

Yorkshire Water has announced it is investing £1m to reduce storm discharges in East Yorkshire.

When heavy rainfall causes surface water to run into the sewers, overflows are discharged into waterways to prevent flooding in residential areas or waste backing up. But campaigners say this increases pollution levels in rivers and coastal areas.

The project in New Ellerby is part of a wider £180m scheme to cut the number of storm "overflows" across Yorkshire by April 2025, the water company said.

It involves building 377ft (115m) of new surface water sewer to stop rainwater from nearby properties and highways entering the combined sewer network, alongside four new manhole chambers.

The project also includes relining 413ft (126m) of sewer to reduce the level of groundwater infiltration into the combined sewer, Yorkshire Water said.

Project manager Lumi Ajayi said: "On completion, it will result in a 45% reduction of discharges from the New Ellerby storm overflow discharging into the nearby Kelwell drain and help improve water quality.

"This project follows hot on the heels of a recently completed £380k investment to increase storage capacity at the wastewater treatment works in neighbouring Old Ellerby village.

"This extra storage capacity is projected to result in a 70% in storm overflows going into a tributary of Kelwell Drain."

According to the firm, the scheme is expected to improve water quality in the area "by reducing the frequency and intensity of storm overflows going into local watercourses".

In August, Yorkshire Water was given a £47m fine following an Ofwat report into sewage spills.

The water company said it was "planning its largest ever environmental investment between 2025 and 2030, which includes more than £1bn earmarked to reduce storm overflows across Yorkshire, subject to Ofwat approval".

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