Less phosphorous, more life in the water
Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage. It enters the sewers via toilets, showers and washing machines, originating from human urine and certain household products. It can also wash off from agricultural fields after the use of fertilisers and be dissolved from soil. While phosphorous is an essential part of many ecosystems, excessive amounts can become damaging to the environment.
What's the problem?
Too much phosphorous in the water causes algae to go wild. When rivers become clogged with algae, it can be disastrous for wildlife and create 'dead zones' where nothing can live.
Over the last 5 years, we have:
- reduced phosphorus at 80 of our treatment works
- decreased levels by 56% against the 2020 baseline
Now, it's time to step up our game again...
What's the solution?
Over the next 5 years we are investing £360 million into:
- more phosphorus removal systems
- upgrading equipment at wastewater treatment works
This work is designed to help us decrease the phosphorous levels in our treatment works by 75% compared to 2020
How does it work?
Get a behind-the-scenes look at our water treatment process, where you will see:
- how we process 2,700 litres of wastewater per second
- the weirdest things we've found in the sewers
- how a "giant jacuzzi" is part of the process
Any questions?
Seeing or smelling sewage works - is that normal?
Yes, it’s very normal. Wastewater treatment sites are located close to the communities they serve and near the rivers they treat. This makes sure wastewater is managed efficiently and safely.
Modern treatment processes stop bad smells as much as they can. But weather conditions like wind direction, and other factors can sometimes cause smells to be noticeable in nearby areas.
We understand this can be unpleasant, and and we’re working hard to reduce and manage odours where we can.
What are we doing to reduce environmental problems?
We’re reducing any impact our sites might have on the environment. Modern treatment processes are made to reduce bad smells and keep noise to a minimum, and we’re continuing to invest in improvements long term.
We use equipment called odour control units. These units are fitted to tanks used in the treatment process and work by capturing and stopping smells before they can escape.
Our operations and maintenance colleagues follow plans to keep treatment processes running as they should. This helps stop backups in the system, that can cause odours, and keep sites running smoothly.
How do sewage pumping stations work and what do they do?
Sewage pumping stations are used in areas where wastewater can’t flow naturally using gravity. They pump sewage through the network to make sure it finds its way to treatment sites.
These stations are a big part of keeping the system moving, reducing and stopping blockages, helping us treat wastewater and protect Yorkshire’s environment. So everyone can enjoy cleaner, healthier waterways.
What is our plan to stop overflows at pumping stations?
Sometimes, pumping stations can overflow when there is too much water for them to handle. This happens when there is heavy rain fall for a long time. To tackle this, we’ve invested over £180 million and are continuing to make improvements.
We’ve set up the Storm Overflow Alliance, that will invest more than £1 billion over the next five years to lower spills from the combined sewer system to improve Yorkshire’s river and coastal water.
How do we make sure we're meeting environmental standards at sewage treatment sites?
Protecting the environment is at the heart of everything we do. Our sampling and compliance colleagues are working hard to make sure we’ve got the right data to modify the treatment process. And our operation colleagues make sure our sites are at a high standard so we’re meeting the right environmental standards.
How are we planning to upgrade and invest in sewage treatment and pumping infrastructure in the region?
As part of our largest programme to date, we’ll be investing £8.3 billion to improve services and infrastructure across the region into 2030. In wastewater non-infrastructure alone, we’re planning to spend £560 million on environmental improvements, ensuring a thriving Yorkshire for future generations.
Do you have targets for phosphorous reduction?
Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) is a plan created by water companies and the Environment Agency to protect and improve the environment. Revisited every five years, every water company has its own WINEP with actions and timescales that must be followed.
A big part of WINEP is to lower phosphorus in our rivers. WINEP also includes catchment management projects, that help tackle phosphorus pollution before it reaches treatment works. By working with landowners and communities, these projects aim to do all they can to keep our rivers cleaner and healthier.