Waste Non-Infrastructure

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.