Pollution prevention 
Trillions of fat-busting bugs are to be released into the region's sewerage system to clear blockages and prevent pollution.
The innovative and environmentally friendly treatment process is to be targeted at 180 known hot-spots around the region where a build up of fat, oils and greases is causing repeated problems.
It works by using organically grown bacillus bacteria, which is commonly found in the human gut, to feast on the fat, oils and grease, with the bacteria being mixed with non-chlorinated water before being poured into the sewer.
Figures show that in 2010 sewer blockages accounted for over a third of the 335 pollution incidents, of which a significant proportion were due to the build up of fats, oils and grease.
People who pour cooking fat and oil down their sink or toilet often don't appreciate the damaging impact this can have on the region's watercourses.
These fats, oils and greases can solidify, causing sewers to back up and spill over into nearby rivers, streams and becks.
Pollution categories
The Environment Agency has set out the following four pollution classifications:
- Major effect on water quality, affecting over 1km of water
- Significant effect on water quality, affecting over 100m of water
- Minimal effect on water quality, with minor impact on habitat
- No impact on water environment , despite polluting release
Over the past few decades we've played a major role in
cleaning up the region's rivers and watercourses, so we take any pollution incident very seriously indeed.
As well as the proposed biological dosing of sewers with fat-eating bugs, other activities include:
- A £1.3 million programme of sewerage network improvements has got underway this month aimed at preventing pollution at 140 sites across Yorkshire.
- CCTV cameras are been used to survey 130kms of some of the region's most high risk sewers, with plans to survey an additional 70kms
- 6,000 high risk manholes have been surveyed this year which has led to 204 blockages being cleared
- Tree roots have been cut out of more than 1km of sewers and the pipes relined.
- 415 known pollution hot-spots are now being visited on a three-month cycle, with 30 pollution incidents already avoided this year.
- Telemetry inspections are being carried out at 2,700 sites across the Yorkshire region, with 197 improvements already identified.
- An eight-week programme of inspections has started on 60kms of some of the region's most critical sewers using "smart ball" sensor technology.
Over the period 2010 to 2015, we will invest more than £111m on improvements to the region's sewerage network and sewage pumping stations.
Fran Winter Network Protection Manager at Yorkshire Water, explains our latest initiative to clear fat from sewers using fat eating bugs
In addition, the company is also investing £120m to improve the quality of the bathing waters at popular East Coast tourist resorts such as Scarborough, Bridlington and Filey -
find out more.
