£1-3m project to reduce storm overflows into Muster Brook, Temple Normanton

Yorkshire Water is planning to invest £1.3m in Temple Normanton to reduce the number of storm overflows into Muster Brook, a tributary of the river Rother. 

The work will see the construction of a 390m new surface water sewer. This will take rainfall from highway drainage and surface water from several properties on Springwood Street.  

By preventing surface water entering the combined sewer network, the frequency and impact of the storm spill events into Muster Brook from the storm overflow at the wastewater treatment works will be reduced.

Yorkshire Water will also make improvements to the operation of the treatment works on Postmans Lane to improve its performance during rainfall events. The changes to the treatment works have begun and will be completed in March 2025. 

The investment is expected to reduce the number of discharges from the storm overflow by more than 60% from the 2021 figures and is part of Yorkshire Water’s current £180m investment to reduce storm overflows across Yorkshire. 

Hollie Hammond, asset sponsor at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving watercourses across Yorkshire and are investing £180m by April 2025 to reduce storm overflow spills to the environment. Removing surface water from the wastewater network is a key way of cutting storm discharges to watercourses.

“Alterations made at our nearby treatment works will also improve its operation and become more self-efficient during rainfall events, which in turn will also contribute to a decrease in spills to the environment, improving water quality in Muster Brook and watercourses further downstream.”